
Class 

Book i 

GopightN 



CQEBRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



^Tke Leading of a Minister 



THE LEADING OF A 
MINISTER 



BY 



Amelia Fargo Staled 




^Tne Christopker Publishing House 
Boston, U. S. A. 



^ 






Copyright ig22 
By The Christopher Publishing House 



Printed in U. S. A. 
U)7.A659998 






Dedicated 

In Loving cMemcny to 

cMy Husband 

Reverend John Jacob Staley 



*'To grow, to change, to move, may now 
Be called the spirit of the age. 
Each step of progress we accept 
As written on life's mottled page. 

But dare we now accept or leave 
This way of progress to our goal ; 
Might we not do without the rest, 
When we have proved we have a soul?" 

Nellie Staley Sheldon. 



INTRODUCTORY NOTE 

I have known Mr. and Mrs. John J. Staley for many 
years. My acquaintance began when Mrs. Staley was a 
member of my choir in Lansing, Michigan. 

One day Mr. Staley came to me with a manuscript 
which he wished me to read. When I had done so Jie 
told me that it was the work of a spirit. My antagonism 
to spiritualism was so strong that I reproved him in the 
most vigorous terms and showed him the extreme danger 
of tampering with such things. 

He was active in church work especially among the 
young people. One day he told me that he felt that he 
was called to preach. This was rather a surprise to me, 
but I told him I would direct his reading and he could 
test the matter. Meanwhile he said nothing about any 
further attempt to communicate with the unseen. 

After several years, when he had through great ef- 
forts and a remarkable development, become an ordained 
minister, we met at Chautauqua, and he again made bold 
to show me a manuscript. I was so impressed with its re- 
semblance to some things in Swedenborg that I suggest- 
ed that he had been reading the works of the Swedish 
seer. When he told me that he was ignorant of these 
writings, I asked for further information. As a result I 
visited him in his home and witnessed what, for lack of a 
better term, may be called the mediumship of Mrs. Staley. 

Sometimes by automatic writing and sometimes by 
clair-audience she delivered messages purporting to come 
from my friends who had for some time been in the spirit 
world. Some of these communications had in them such 
intimate touches, such knowledge of my family life and 
such acquaintance with my inmost thoughts that I was de- 
cidedly impressed. 

Because of my intimate acquaintance with Mr. and 
Mrs. Staley all question of conscious fraud or unworthy 



purpose were eliminated, from the beginning. The whole 
thing was as inexplicable to them as to me. The story 
of how it had grown and how they had been led from 
step to step is exceedingly interesting as a human docu- 
ment. 

Much can be explained as a product of the sub- 
conscious activity, more by telepathy. But there is a 
residue which is much more apparent to those immed- 
iately interested than it can possibly be to any one else, 
that cannot be explained in either of these ways. 

My own theory is that there are openings into the 
subconsciousness from the sides, so to speak, through 
which information and influences come to us from other 
beings like ourselves, whether in the body or out of the 
body, and also an opening into the Universal Mind 
through which come stirrings from the Divine Spirit. All 
these mix with the contents of the individual consciousness 
and it is impossible to separate them, although we may 
sometimes be practically certain as to the origin of some 
of the elements. 

With more of experimentation and more careful 
analysis we may be able to make the separation more 
complete and satisfactory. When we do, I believe we 
shall decide that there is some contact between us and 
those who have preceded us into the spirit world, and we 
may hope, through the efforts of those who are so earnest- 
ly studying these problems to reach assured conviction 
that the gate between the two worlds is not an absolutely 
closed gate. 

Meanwhile I feel that this book is a distinct contri- 
bution to the growing literature of psychical research. 
By Rev. C. H. Beale, D. D. 
Pastor of the Grand Avenue Congregational Church 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 



PREFACE 

Most of us have something in life that is especially 
sacred to us. Something so dear and sacred that any 
adverse criticism of it is like a sword thrust. That is how 
I feel about the messages. For years they have been so 
near and so dear to us that we reverence them almost as 
much as we do the Holy Scriptures. I believe in them so 
thoroughly; they have done so much for me and mine, 
that now as I give them to the world, I do so with fear and 
trembling. Not from any fear of criticism of myself, but 
criticism of the messages. I should not blame the world, 
for well do I remember when I was as skeptical as any 
one could possibly be. 

I never attended a spiritualistic seance and never 
had a wish to do so. All I know about spiritism is my 
own personal experience. I believe when we fully recog- 
nize this All Power of Spirit, its omnipresence, its omni- 
science, we will be given the knowledge to use it, not only 
upon occasion, but always, under all circumstances; and 
in the measure we cultivate our understanding, in just 
that measure shall we see and hear and know. 

So I have learned when I feel a Presence, it is some 
one in the Spirit World who wishes to speak to me. I have 
spent many and profitable hours conversing with friends 
I could not see. Sometimes it seems that I must take them 
by the hand and look into their faces. In my younger 
years I had a great, a most terrifying dread of death and 
often would work myself into a distressingly nervous 
state, as I thought of dying and being buried. Oh, the 
horrors of that awful hole in the ground, for, I would say, 
'It will surely come some day.' 

But now, all that is past. I no longer have any fear 
of death, but feel sure that when the last call comes to me 
I will just step into that other room. Then, indeed, I 
shall see those loved faces and "feel the touch of a van- 
ished hand, and hear the voice that is still." 

A. F. S. 



The Leading of a Minister 

CHAPTER I 

My first experience was in 1 888 when I saw my fath- 
er, Mason Fargo, who passed away in 1881. He came 
and sat at the table just opposite me, looked straight in- 
to my eyes and smiled. I was so overcome, I left the 
table where guests were seated. My mother followed me 
to my room, begging me to tell her if I were ill. I told her 
what I had seen, saying that I was sure it was a warning 
of some evil to come. I made a memorandum of the day 
and hour. Nothing happened, but it was just one year 
from that day and hour that my mother passed away. I 
saw my father very distinctly. I had not been thinking 
of him and certainly I was not dreaming. 

A few weeks before my mother left me, I came into 
possession of a Planchette board. For hours at a time 
we would sit at this board, never seeming to tire, reading 
the wonderful messages that came to us. And we be- 
lieved them to come from the spirit world. One person 
after another would come, and we became so well ac- 
quainted with them we could often tell who they were as 
soon as they began speaking, if they had ever spoken 
to us before. 

Each had a personality as when on earth, character- 
ized by all the peculiarities and mannerisms in speech 
manifested by them as when , in the flesh. Some we 
learned to love very dearly because they were so kind in 
their advice. 

Some of them would now and then write a little 
rhyme, serious or comic. We were greatly surprised 
when some of them would tell us their names. We en- 
joyed the poet Burns very much. Sometimes he would 
speak in the Scottish dialect, then we would have to re- 
sort to a glossary before we could interpret him. 

I recall those days and evenings when we would 



14 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

reverently seat ourselves to commune with the dear ones 
gone on to that other land and how near Heaven seemed 
to us then. 

We confided in a few friends only. Some were 
ready and anxious to know more. Others were skeptical 
and went so far as to say, "If you keep this up you will 
lose your mind and end in the insane asylum." That was 
over twenty-five years ago and we "kept it up" all thru 
those blessed years, and neither my husband nor I became 
insane. 

One well known old time statesman came at regular 
intervals and proved a most valuable friend and teacher. 
My husband' s grandfather who was a Baptist clergyman,' 
told my husband how the friends were watching over 
him, and leading him and there must come a great change 
in his life. 

Now for the contemplation of those who are so cer- 
tain that a Planchette board is the "instrument of the 
devil," let me say that more than one soul has found God 
thru our Planchette board. First, and to me the dearest, 
was the great change that came into the life of my hus- 
band. These are some of the principal reasons why I am 
telling the story of our experiences. 

After a time some of our unseen friends , told me 
there was another way for me to receive the messages. 
I asked how? The reply was "automatic writing." I had 
heard of it but had never seen any. They told me to sit 
quietly with paper and pencil, and they would move my 
arm and write. Of course this was a new experience and 
I could not help wondering what the sensation would be 
like. But I did as they told me. I got no results and 
after many trials, became almost discouraged. 

Every day they would say "try again." At last, not 
getting any results, one told me to have some one touch 
the top of the pencil and words would be written. My 
husband took hold of the end of the pencil and my hand 
began to move, and these words were very crookedly 
written across the page: 

"By their works ye shall know them. Purity dwells 
here. Love and trust God." 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 15 

Another time the following was written: 

"Happy are they who dwell in the house of the 
Lord. I watch over you. Your loving grandfather.'* 

March first, 1893, the following was received: 

"Go on with the automatic writing." After a time 
the writing became more legible but the words ran to- 
gether, making the messages very hard to read. The 
power that moved my arm did not lift it from the paper 
but kept on moving after the edge of the paper was 
reached. Here I used my own power and placed the 
pencil back to begin another line. 

We received messages in this way for a long time. 
I do not remember how long, when one day I was told I 
was clairaudient and could hear the voices of spirits if I 
would listen in the right way. This statement rather un- 
nerved me. 

So, great was my surprise one evening, as I was sit- 
ting alone reading, to hear a tiny breath of a voice in my 
ear saying, "I wish to speak." I was in a way prepared 
for this, but I cannot tell you the feeling that swept over 
me as I realized this voice was of one in spirit land. As 
I wished to record all I received, I told my husband what 
I had heard and as I repeated the words he wrote them 
down. This message was of a very personal nature and 
I cannot give it here, but it was most satisfactory to us. 
This same voice spoke to me for some time, then others 
began to come and speak, until all who came would give 
their messages in this way. 

So many have asked if the voices are natural, but 
I cannot explain it. They sound clear enough and yet 
they seem a long way off. It was often a great effort for 
me to get the message. Sometimes the voices seem near- 
by and so soft and mellow that it is easy to hear them, 
and it is a pleasure. 

Do you call this self-deception, or insanity? 

All during the first years of our experiences my hus- 
band was preparing himself for the ministry. By and by 
you will read his "call" to this work and be surprised as 
we were when we heard it. In 1 894 my husband was or- 
dained and took his first pastorate. 



16 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

]893 — "This I have promised you — that you shall 
write automatically. There is soon to come to men the 
test that science has never yet given. It is this: The 
electric current will be used to show the spirit of man, as 
it goes back to God who gave it. It will be so plain that 
none will doubt. Not even the weakest will doubt. 

I am grandfather Staley." 

"Each life has its guardian angel. Think in spirit, 
then you can talk in the spirit. Wireless is the spirit of 
the air. 

"Bishop Fallows calls himself an Immortalist. He 
is unafraid, one of many brave men." 



We received many communications from one who 
called Mr. Staley "my son," and who continued to com- 
mune with us thru the years as my husband's constant ad- 
viser. 

"Now my dear son, whenever you need any help, 
just talk it over with me. I handled people too many 
years not to be able to help you do the same." — Was his 
first offering, and invaluable indeed was this man's ad- 
vice to the young minister all thru the years of his minis- 
try. 

We were told to obey the voices. Being human and 
somewhat skeptical in those days, we preferred our own 
judgment in human affairs which invariably led us into 
trouble as the following experience will show. 

Before Mr. Staley had begun his studies for the min- 
istry he applied for a government position, as his health 
would not permit him to continue in his regular business. 
Just when he needed some good advice the above men- 
tioned statesman said, 'Til tell you what you do. Go to 
work for Uncle Sam." Mr. Staley said, "Why how can 
I do that? A man must have a pretty good pull to get 

a job of that kind." Mr. C replied, "Oh very 

well, I know that. I'll attend to the pull," and told Mr. 
Staley to whom to go to ask for the position. He told 

him to go to Mr. F and make his application. He 

did so. Mr. F. said he would do all he could to bring it 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 17 

about. Then Mr. C. told my husband to go to Gov. 
Luce for a recommendation, saying, "He will help you." 
He's the one and you won't need any other.'* Gov. Luce 
had known Mr. Staley as a boy at his birthplace, in An- 
gola, Indiana. 

One day Mr. Staley had a talk with Mr. F. and 
asked him about going to Gov. Luce for a recommenda- 
tion for the position. Mr. F.'s reply was, "Oh, no, I do 
not think it would do any good at all to ask Gov. Luce 
for a recommendation. He is concerned only with state 
affairs. This would not come under his jurisdiction at 
all." 

This was rather discouraging as it was against Mr. 
C.'s advice. Mr. F. told Mr. Staley to go to two influen- 
tial citizens. He said their word would go much further 
than Gov. Luce's in this case. He did so, but when the 
distribution of offices came, it was the man who was 
recommended by Gov. Luce who was given the position. 

This was a lesson we never forgot. Ever after that 
the advice from Spirit Land was law to us, and all went 
well. Sometimes it seemed very hard when it would 
seem to us that some other way would be better, but in- 
variably the voices* leading was much safer, as we could 
see as time passed. But until we learned this, we met 
with disappointments. 

I feel, in giving these experiences of my husband, he 
will in some measure share with me the great pleasure I 
have in telling our story. 

We did not believe in so-called spiritualism. But 
in the silence, when the soul is wrapped in love to God 
and the loved ones, seeing and knowing their opportunity, 
speak to us. They say they have never left us. Heaven 
is surely all around us. Mankind is just learning to use 
its spiritual forces and some day, they tell us, it will be 
no uncommon thing to commune with the spirits just the 
other side of the veil. There is a growing desire in the 
hearts and minds of men to know these truths. A clergy- 
man once said to me, "It's surprising the number of peo- 
ple who are interested in spiritism. Let me just drop a 
word along that line in the pulpit and they are all atten- 



18 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

tion. It's funny to see them sit up and listen." This has 
happened in my husbands church also, more than once. 

All men have dreams of the life beyond. They 
long to know how their loved ones are employed and if 
they are happy. Is there a hell? Is it a literal hell? 
What about fire and brimstone? How did the human 
race originate? What about the Virgin Birth? Is there 
any truth in Reincarnation? What happens just after the 
breath leaves the body? What is Christ like? What is 
God like? What is the unpardonable sin? What is on 
the planets we see from earth and are they inhabited? 
Do we see the saints? 

I might go on and on with these hundreds of ques- 
tions that the human race is asking, and has been asking 
all thru the centuries. 

All I can do is to tell you what has been told to us. 
You get it the same as we did. I shall not attempt to 
answer these questions, but you will find the answers in 
the messages that follow. Is it true that they are voices 
from the spirit world? I answer — yes! I believe they 
are. If it is self deception, then I am happy in my belief. 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 19 



CHAPTER II 

In 1904 we were called upon to part with our 
daughter Claudia, a beautiful girl just entering young 
womanhood. She was loved by all who knew her, both 
young and old. She possessed a cheerful nature, was al- 
ways happy in disposition, and loved her friends and 
liked company. Possessing a keen sense of humor, she 
always saw the funny side of things. She was the life of 
our home, but she had to leave us. It was a cross I was 
all unprepared to bear and I felt it should not have been. 
Young and beautiful and full of life, why should she of 
all others be chosen? But now I know why for she has 
told me all about it. And now the young man who was 
her affianced husband has passed on too. She says she 
has seen him and he is very happy. 

When Claudia had been gone from us about three 
years, I sat one day alone, thinking of her, wondering if 
she had young friends there whom she could enjoy, or if 
she were so busy working for others (as that is their prin- 
cipal occupation there) that she had no time for enjoy- 
ments she loved so well here. 

I was thinking this in spite of the fact that I had been 
told "they" knew no such thing as time "there." As I sat 
thinking these things, I had a vision. Oh what a beautiful 
vision it was. 

As if in answer to my longing, the vision came. I 
saw a white cloud rise. It seemed to just gradualry de- 
velop, coming from nowhere in particular. It rose toward 
the ceiling and spread across the room. Then it seemed 
to be streaked across at regular intervals. These streaks 
soon grew plainer and plainer, when I saw they were tiers 
and tiers of beautiful seats that rose from floor to ceiling. 
Then the most exquisite draperies came into view. There 
were wheels, so soft and white, under it all. The white- 
ness of it all was like no whiteness I had ever seen. And 



20 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

then, beautiful faces appeared; then the whole figure of 
rows of lovely laughing girls, young like my Claudia. All 
looked so angelic and pure, so sweet, so lovely. This 
chariot rolled towards me, and from the seat in the mid- 
dle of the first row, Claudia arose, for she was one of 
them, and with outstretched hands came toward me, and 
with a sweet smile upon her face said, "Marmie!" 

I half rose, I was so dazed, so happy and yet so sur- 
prised, I could not speak. But as I rose the vision melted 
away and I was alone in my own home, in the Manse. But 
I knew Claudia was happy in the companionship of girls 
of her age. 

Now some will say, as some always say, "Oh she 
dropped asleep, and dreamed." No, I did not go to 
sleep and it was not a dream. It was broad daylight. 
The sun was shining into the room. No, I saw Claudia 
as she was. Afterwards she told me Christ permitted her 
to come to comfort me. 

Was this too, self deception or pure imagination? 

Followed many pleasant talks with Claudia. She 
told me she had had many happy visits with my mother 
who had passed into that life. 

I See My Mother. 

The first time that my mother came to me, she did 
not speak. The second and last time she spoke. The 
first time that I saw her I was very much frightened and 
wept; but the second time I was not afraid. At that time 
I had been, and was still a teacher of voice culture. I 
sang in the church choir on Sundays and taught during 
the week, so I had no time for rest and often Sabbath 
morning found me with a severe headache. And so it 
happened this particular Sabbath. As I woke I said, Oh 
how can I go to church and sing my solo with this terrible 
headache? As I said this, I heard my mother's voice so 
sweetly but distinctly saying, "Get up and take a walk 
dear and your headache will leave you." I sat up and 
looked to see where the voice came from, and as I did 
so, I caught just a glimpse of my mother. She had been 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 21 

gone from us but a short time. She afterwards told me 
she did not stay because she feared she would frighten 
me. 

After receiving the foregoing messages and many 
more of a similar nature, my husband was called to his 
first pastorate at Leslie. I am going to write of some of 
our experiences during our first summer in Leslie. 

Living in New England were two elderly ladies, sis- 
ters of my father, Mrs. Seaver and Mrs. Choate. They 
have now passed beyond the veil and no doubt are stand- 
ing by my side reading these words as I write them, for 
these aunts had a great part in our experiences that sum- 
mer in Leslie. 

They were coming to make us a visit. Some months 
before this I had received messages for them which I 
made bold to forward to them. They wrote me they 
were very much interested; thanked me for sending the 
messages, saying, "Send all you get. We are open to 
conviction." Now this visit would enable them to get 
the messages first hand and they were not disappointed, 
but convinced. 

These aunts remained with us two months and what 
a glorious summer it was! They were natives of the East, 
were reared in culture, possessed keen minds and were 
not in the least degree gullible. They were deeply inter- 
ested in our study and willing to be convinced as they 
later were. We lived so much upon the Borderland that 
summer that we did not mind the intense heat that was 
burning up foliage and grass, licking up the streams and 
withering crops. It mattered not to us that for ten long 
weeks not a drop of rain had fallen, and that the) trees 
and lawns were gray and dust-laden. 

When my aunts had been with us a few days, a let- 
ter came from my eldest brother saying that he and his 
wife were making a tour of Michigan and would arrive at 
our house upon a certain date, for a two days visit. This 
was most welcome news to us, but we would miss our lit- 
tle evening visits with our dear ones beyond the veil. 
However, we decided we would not mention the mes- 
sages, after some discussion about what had been told 



22 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

us of my brother's opinion of such things. He was very 
decided in his opinions of most things, and this theme 
was treated with his greatest contempt. He told us after- 
wards that he had told our sisters, whom he had just visit- 
ed, that he was going to "burst that bubble" and put a 
stop to the whole thing. 

Now there is one word always used in connection 
with messages from Spirit Land, which I can never en- 
dure. That word is "Medium." I have heard it so much 
in connection with frauds that I could never endure having 
it used or applied to myself. I think my brother detested 
the word as much as I. 

So when he said to me the next morning after his ar- 
rival, — "Well, they tell me you are a 'medium,' " — I fair- 
ly winced. By "they" he meant our sisters. My reply 
was, — 'No, I am not a medium, Wilson, but I do receive 
messages and I do believe in Spirit communication.* I 
will give the conversation as it occurred. His answer to 
my statement was, "Oh, you do, do you?" 

"I not only believe it, I know it." 

"How do you know it?" 

"It has been proven to us in many ways." 

"Well I would like to see how you do it." 

Now this brother of mine was a dear brother, and 
we loved each other dearly, but the thought that his sister 
was a "medium" was a very bitter one to him. I said, 
"Very well, come in." (We were standing out of doors.) 

As we stepped into the room where my aunts were 
nervously awaiting us (they had overheard a part of our 
conversation) I said, "Wilson wishes to see some of the 
messages." 

"Oh very well," said Mrs. Seaver, "I will get a tab- 
let." She did so and Wilson and I sat down very close 
together, as he wished to get "a good close view of 
things." His keen business mind was going to see thru 
that, at once. 

The pages of the tablet were large, and it was only 
a moment before the writing began. The writing was very 
rapid, more so than usual, with never an instants stop 
until the sheet was filled. During the writing my brother 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 23 

kept saying, "Don't you know what you are writing?'* 
"Do you know what that message is about?" I told him 
I did not, any more than he did. He would lean close 
and watch and watch, but the pencil flew on and on. 
My brother watched every move; watched the muscles of 
my arm; studied the expression of my face. 

Well at last the message ended with never a stop 
from start to finish and was signed — Your father D. M. 
Fargo. Wilson read it thru, then sat silent for a long 
time. Then he said, "Try it again." This was his undo- 
ing; as it proved to be a message from an old friend of 
his whom I had never seen and of whom I had never 
heard. This message was also quite a lengthy one and 
contained conversations they had had together. It told 
my brother of things which he knew I could not possibly 
have any knowledge of. It was signed, Your old friend, 
Ike Howard. 

"Ike Howard," I said, "I have never heard of him." 

"No," my brother said, "I don't believe you ever 
have," and turning to my aunts said, "Doesn't that beat 
the dickens?" (I give this literally). They then asked 
him what he thought of the writing, and his reply was, 
"Well, I don't know what to think. But this I do know, 
that nobody on earth can sit down and fill a yard or two 
of paper full like that, and never stop to do a little think- 
ing, but she never stopped from start to finish." 

After that he received communications from other of 
his friends, who had passed out of this life. Some were 
of a business nature. He saw it was impossible for me 
to know anything about those matters and it could not 
be called telepathy, for he said some of the communi- 
cations were from people he had not thought about in 
years. He then confessed he was convinced, telling us 
laughingly how he had told our sisters that he was coming 
to Leslie to "explode the whole thing and put a stop to it 
all." 

His wife who was a witness to all this, became a 
convert, and she too received word from loved ones. 
And even in after years when they became good Christ- 
ian Scientists, they always believed and could never get 



24 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

away from the wonderful truths they learned while in 
Leslie. 

You see they came to make a visit of two days, but 
remained two weeks; went away for a week with some 
other friends; returned to Leslie and remained another 
week, saying they wished they could stay all summer. 
That was the way he "pricked the bubble and exploded 
the whole business." 

Messages were sent them from time to time, which 
they were always glad to receive. An aunt of my sister- 
in-law passed away, and wishing for some word from her, 
my sister-in-law wrote me that she had lost a "dear 
friend" and said, "will you see if she will come and write 
to me?" 

Of course I had no way of knowing who this friend 
was. My sister gave no name. I sat for a moment con- 
centrating upon the wished for thought and asked, could 
the friend of my sister-in-law come and write thru me. 
Soon the pencil moved and quite a lengthy message was 
written and the full name of my sister-in-law's aunt was 
signed. Soon after this message was received my sister 
wrote me saying she purposely withheld all information 
to see if her aunt would give her a test. I give these ex- 
periences at length as examples of many such which came 
to us. 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 25 



CHAPTER III 

Years of labor and growth followed this happy sea- 
son. Going from Leslie to Boston for a time, then thru 
advice from his adviser — Mr. B. — my husband accepted 
a call to the church at Dexter. During three years of 
earnest endeavor and many denials, while his soul 
yearned for the mountain tops, his climb was slow but 
sure, and his talents as an orator as well as a pastor were 
coming to be recognized by those who heard him. One 
day another call came and Mr. Staley was soon installed 
in a church in Belding. Still a small church was his. The 
time had not yet come for him to use his wings as he 
longed to do. 

After two years at Belding his hopes were realized. 
Before leaving this page I must write of the patient obedi- 
ence to the messages, of how the young minister never 
took the initiative, but followed closely the advice of his 
leader, and what a mighty leader was he. I would not 
convey the idea that Mr. B. was in any way a leader in 
the place of Christ, for no man ever believed more in the 
power of prayer than did Mr. Staley. So with the advice 
from the Spirit world as a powerful factor in his life, he 
was led day by day by the hand of God, as was shown in 
his work and relations to men. 

It was in August, 1902, that Mr. B. our adviser, told 
my husband he wished him to go to Manistee. The first 
Congregational church there was without a pastor at that 
time. His reply to Mr. B. was, — "I am afraid I cannot 
serve so large a church as that." Mr. B. then said, "Oh 
yes you can. You could serve any church in the state." 

Soon after this our good friend Mr. D. of Lansing, 
called at the Manse and said, "Mr. Staley, I have heard 
such very good reports of your work here in Belding that 
it seems to me you could serve a larger church. Now 
there are two good churches, at C and at Manistee, 



26 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

that are pastorless and I would like to see you have one 
of them." Mr. D. said that with Mr. Staley's permission 
he would write to a friend of his whom he thought might 
have some influence in the church at Manistee, and he 
thought Mr. Staley would be invited to preach to them 
one Sunday, and he felt sure it would lead to a call. So 
with Mr. Staley's consent he wrote to his friend, Judge 
McAlvay, and in course of time my husband was invited 
to go to Manistee for one Sunday. 

In December the church at Manistee gave Mr. Staley 
an unanimous call and he continued to serve that church 
nearly fourteen years until he was called to that "Higher 
Field" which Mr. B. had spoken of so often. My husband 
and I often wished to tell our friend Mr. D. about Mr. B.'s 
prophecy and tell him how he was God's instrument to 
bring this all about. I saw him a year ago and told him. 
He was surprised at my account of our experience. He 
was sent of God as truly as any one who was ever sent 
of God. How many are unconscious of being God's in- 
struments when they are helping a fellow man. 

Because of our position in society, because it was 
beyond all reason for a minister of the gospel to dabble 
in spiritism, we kept our secret, while mothers and fathers 
mourned for loss of children; while sorrow and grief ran 
lampant thru hearts and homes. We could speak thus 
far, but no further. Oh how we longed to give of our 
knowledge to those suffering ones. 

Many times in the past, some mother who had been 
bereft of a child, or some wife who had been called upon 
to part with her husband, has said to me, "Oh, if I only 
knew they are alive again. Oh, if they could only come 
and talk to me." And I had to keep the ■ silence I so 
longed to break and give her the comfort I enjoyed. 

The beauty of the messages, especially the more 
personal intimate ones, is the way the spirit friends led 
my husband along in his work from week to week and 
year to year. It meant so much to him, and I regret that 
he cannot tell in his own words how he was encouraged 
and made to see clearly many things that otherwise would 
have hindered his work as a minister of the gospel. 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 27 

Always when in doubt, he consulted these friends 
who never failed him. When a choice of two ways was 
to be made he was guided to the safe way by these help- 
ers. He knew he always had them near and gave them 
his close confidence. In this way, for the most part, his 
work was without serious friction. In this way too was 
he often warned of some evil to come that sometimes 
meant grief to him, such as untrue friendship, etc. He 
was always brave and met all discouragements as friends, 
and would say, "It will all be for the best, that I know." 

Men loved the minister, and his friends in all walks 
of life were legion. Sabbath evening was his favorite 
time for consulting the "friends beyond the veil." It 
soothed and rested him after his day's work as nothing 
else did. 

Mr. B. would always come with some encouraging 
word and in Mr. Staley* s closing years when he had 
reached the "zenith of his power," Mr. B. would praise 
him. Once he said to Mr. Staley, "I couldn't have done 
that better myself," which amused Mr. Staley. There 
are many things I might write down of my husband's ex- 
periences but I have not the power to do the subject the 
justice it deserves. 

To one who is inclined to doubt the source of these 
messages, an alleged message from the apostle Paul would 
seem the acme of impossibilities. The idea that one of 
the Martyred Saints could or would come back to earth 
and communicate with sinful mortals, is beyond compre- 
hension. My husband and I were just emerging from this 
state of mind, so when the name Paul the Apostle was 
spelled out, we were inclined to the belief that we were 
being treated to a huge joke. But our doubts were soon 
dispelled, for in his stately dignified manner he told us 
truths we never knew and made us see that before us a 
mighty door was opening and that we were called to be 
the doorkeepers. The responsibility was indeed great, 
but never did we doubt the source again. The following 
is one of the first messages received: 

"1891. 'Ye are the way. Search for souls to come 
upon you. Through just these little sermons ye give 



28 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

more than ye know. In that little simple place of worship 
you are sowing some of the seed your grandparents pro- 
phesied for you. Prove now thyself. The start is made. 
Those men convened will soon need you, instead of you 
needing them. By their works ye shall know them, and 
thus will ye be known among men. By Christ alone can 
this be done. So be not puffed up, but let a simple watch- 
ful life be your every day aim, and this is your reward; 
that Heaven and God await you/ 

Signed — Paul The Apostle.'* 

" 1 89 1 . 'Paul indeed. It is surely a great God who 
would give his creatures such a privilege as this. Keep 
the faith, for if thou art indeed faithful, thou shalt have 
more and more given to thee and greater truths shall be 
opened up to thee. I have communion in Spirit, in reality. 
Your leader, Mr. B. is my deciple. There are many who 
could see and hear who are entirely undeveloped and 
without any knowledge of their gifts. How great is the 
incentive to good. I knew about this great world, un- 
seen of men, because I could see and hear. I must leave 
you now my children. You know me now. 

Paul." 

I hesitate as I contemplate putting the messages from 
the Apostles Paul and Luke, as well as Timothy, into this 
book. But why not? They were just men. To be sure 
they have been in that other world many hundreds of 
years, but they tell us there is no such thing as time there. 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 29 



CHAPTER IV 

After Mr. Staley's conversion his whole life changed. 
He seemed to live in a different atmosphere and from the 
very beginning he sought to tell to others what he exper- 
ienced. There was no gradual letting go of the old life; 
it was as tho some great strong hand had lifted him clear 
from it all and set him in another world. The whole of 
his life was transformed, and as he often told me; it 
seemed to him as tho he walked in air and always felt a 
great presence. He was so alive to everything spiritual 
that his very face shone with a radiance that told of the 
touch of Christ Himself. So often he would exclaim: 
"Oh, if I could only tell others what I feel and lead them 
to a better life." So when St. Paul said to him, "Arise, 
come forth and minister to the souls of men," he knew 
that the call came from Heaven itself. I remember so 
well how he raised his eyes in a prayerful ecstacy and ex- 
claimed: "Oh God! if I only could," and tears poured 
down his face while I held his hands in sympathy and 
prayed with him that it might be. 

1892. "I wish, my friends, that you may converse 
with the loved in God's home. For this purpose I prom- 
ise thee that I, Paul, will guide thy thoughts aright and 
after thy sister's departure, gather ye around this book 
(The Bible) and I will help thee to read it aright. I will 
make impress upon thy mind, my son, and in truth as 
God is my witness, tell upon its face the words in thy 
mind. I would thus bring comfort and knowledge to 
thee, loved of God and Christ, and never, my friend, 
take this in hand until thou hast cleansed thy mind of the 
day's business and cares, by an earnest faithful prayer to 
God, that I, Paul, may guide thee aright." 

(Interruption). "My friend has let me in. Ye 
mayhap rather it were Paul, but within thy softened heart 
I see the stars shining that are some day to glisten in thy 



30 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

crown. I would say, — Courage brother, and forward to 
the prize. Would ye who I am? 

Timothy." 

1 892. "Choose the good paths, let what will come. 
Stick to and swerve not from them. Thy desires are 
good. Now bring thy life to correspond with them. Reso- 
lutions are good but worthless without works. Let thy 
light shine on all that they may see thy good works and 
only the good that is within thee and love thee. 

Signed — Luke the Physician." 



1892. St. Paul calls Mr. Staley to the ministry. 

"Verily ye have the Spirit of God ever with you, 
quenching the desires at will, bowing with dignity, yet 
willingly. Keep ever the Son of Man before thee, follow- 
ing His example. Fear not, the Kingdom of God is 
opened to thee. Stay not the hand nor rest till the law 
be fulfilled that God designs for thee. My son, keep the 
law of God. Go work in His vineyard while yet it is 
called day. Hear ye the Lord's command — "With sword 
unsheathed and armor bright and bare, let naught daunt 
thee nor turn thee from the way. The Lord God of 
Hosts is thy Helper and thy Shield. Withhold not thy 
right arm. Here is work to be done worth a crown to 
thee, and a shining star therewith; souls refulgent and re- 
splendent with great glory, if only the Light of the Lamb 
be let in upon them. Stay not then thy prayers, thy ex- 
ample, thy words of love and sympathy. For fear ye 
may be blind of my conversation, I say unto thee, these 
of whom I speak are at your very door, and I, Paul, call 
to thee across the centuries to arise; come forth and min- 
ister to the souls of men. To this were ye ordained of 
God from the beginning of the world. Amen. And 
now may the Peace that passeth all understanding be 
and abide with thee now and forever more, thru all Etern- 
ity Amen and Amen. 

Signed — Paul The Apostle." 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 31 

After my husband received this message he sat as 
one dumb. He could not realize that he could be chosen 
to preach the gospel. Always gifted by nature with, it 
seemed every requisite to make a successful public speak- 
er, he had often had dreams of perhaps some day, enter- 
ing public life in some capacity, politics, perhaps. But 
never had he dreamed that he would or could ever be- 
come a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But now 
with this great new awakening that had come to his soul, 
and his great desire that he might make others feel what 
he felt, it did not seem so impossible to him to respond 
to the call of the great apostle. However he could not 
yet comprehend the bigness of it all. He did not hesitate, 
but started immediately to respond to and obey the call, 
and prepare himself for the great work before him. St. 
Paul made no mistake when he called the young (man) 
minister, for no man was better fitted for his calling than 
was Mr. Staley. The moment he stepped into his pulpit 
one felt a thrill and a satisfaction. 

"You have a work to do my son. I have told you. 
The worm that is trying to blast this fruit is slowly but 
surely dying in its own web. I would you fully under- 
stood what this has meant in your life. You will under- 
stand things as they come along in your life; and you will 
remember my words. 

Signed — Grandfather Staley." 

Extract from a letter received about 1 898, from an 
eminent Divine and dear friend, "C. H. B." 
"Dear Staley: 

"The communication received this morning. It was 
great, made me give in. Have just been glancing at a 
Swedenborg book called 'Heaven Revealed' by Barrett. 
Everything tallies with what we have received. This does 
not take away from the wonderful nature of your com- 
munications, for they are entirely independent and touch 
us now. They are down to date. Tell Mrs. Staley that 
she is indeed blessed among women." 



To me the following vision or allegory is a literal, 



32 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

rather than a fantastic interpretation of the development 
of salvation of a human life. 

AN ALLEGORY OR VISION 

"Before me I see something that at first looks like a 
small object being blown by the wind here and there. I 
see it first one side, then the other, tossed about as a play- 
thing that has lost its charm. I turn away and think no 
more about it. I look again in that direction and what 
is that I see? Not the plaything I watched before, but a 
young bird just fluttering from the fangs of a wounded 
serpent. The bird too is wounded but not unto death. 
I turn upon the serpent to crush out its hated life, when 
lo, it is already dead." 

"But the poor little songster, I take in my hand, and 
what do I see? Not a bird now wounded and torn, but a 
human soul; a soul born of God; full of God's life and 
brimming over with His Spirit. A soul that has within it- 
self the embodiment of a mind that has the capabilities of 
reaching out as few souls have. I look again and lo, there 
is a door to this soul. I say, 'Ah, if I can only open that 
door, what might not this soul be able to do.* " 

"I hear a voice. I turn and Christ says to me, 'Here 
is the key, take it, touch the spring and all you find with- 
in, I will share with you.' " 

"I insert the key. The lock is rusty, the metal im- 
paired by evils it has passed. The hinges creak, but joy 
of Heaven, it is loosed at last. And then rising even to 
the Throne of God, leaping and laughing for joy, this soul 
emerges and soars to heights before unknown, and, limp 
and lifeless the old shell falls away and is buried in the 
dusty embers of the past." 

"And now the I, the real, walks abroad, hand in 
hand with one of the greatest souls that ever entered in- 
to the Kingdom." 

"Christ has put His seal upon it and given me the 
keeping. It is my charge and I am happy. All around 
is the shining light of God's everlasting presence; and 
together we go out into the world that had well nigh 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 33 

been the destruction of this soul. It is a new world now. 
The people are all new; the faces are faces you never saw 
before. The book that now you prize above all other 
books, you never saw before; you never read it before." 

"Well, we must not tarry here too long. The cry 
is long and loud for help." 

"I see what may unfold and develop, so I look the 
situation over, determined that the best opportunuity shall 
be given this soul for its greatest growth. God opens a 
way and we start on together." 

"In the impetuosity of comparative youth, this soul 
rebels somewhat and says, 'Not that way, and not that 
way.' I smile at this and lead gently on." 

"All at once we come out upon a plain broad and 
high, and I hold your hand and still hold it, and those 
who knew you before, know you not now. Your stand- 
ard shall now be the Father's standard, and you shall be 
brave and blest with a harvest that any man may crave. 
And you shall stand among the crowned ones, one of the 
crowned; favored of both God and man." 

Mr. B. Speaks Prophetically. 

"This I prophesy — not as coming too long from 
now. Be willing to climb, be willing to bear the storms 
and bufferings of the world. A day of surprises is in 
store for you and yours. And she who has labored so 
long and faithfully, shall reap a reward you do not dream 
could be. I s ty 'good cheer, good cheer.' I could i not 
refrain from telling you these things, and praise God that 
He, in His great love, has permitted me to have this 
pleasure. It is one of my rewards." 

"Is it not worth all the work and sacrifice to be able 
to bring such comforting truths and encouragement to a 
struggling soul?" 

"Ques. Who are you?" 

"Ans. One who is trying to do God's work. How 
the joy of your heart rejoices me. Now, work as you 
have never worked before, and your reward shall be what 
God this day, thru my instrumentality, hath promised 
thee." Mr. B. 



34 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

At this point I recall Mr. B.'s first "visit" to us. In 
substance he said thru me to Mr. Staley. 



1890. "1 have come to you because I have chosen 
you. We each can make a choice as to whom we can 
help of those left upon earth. It is my pleasure to choose 
one in whom I see great possibilities. From henceforth, 
you are my beloved son; I will guide you and teach you, 
and together we will bring great knowledge and comfort 
to human souls. I ask but one thing, obedience. This I 
must have or we fail. Are you willing to make the prom- 
lse? 

Ans. "I am just so far as in me lies, I will listen and 
obey." 

"Thank you my son, God's blessing is upon you." 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 35 



CHAPTER V 

As a young woman I spent some years studying 
grand opera, and was ambitious to some day become a 
grand opera star. While in Toledo, Ohio, I met a lady 
who afterwards became a very dear friend, and whose 
kindness to me is one of my sweetest memories. In some 
way we came into possession of a planchette board. As 
Mrs. B and I sat at the board different ones came and 
talked to us. 

The one who came most often was that delightful 
prima donna Litta. She passed out of this life many years 
ago. After returning home, subsequent circumstances 
forced me to renounce the stage, and I had begun teach- 
ing, altho I was suffering deep disappointment that I must 
give up what I had worked and lived for. During this 
time, Litta came to me and gave me encouragement thru 
the following message: 

1891. "Do not question; God's ways are past 
finding out. Our ways are not His ways. We know not 
why He does thus and so. So now remember He never 
does anything that He has not a good reason for doing. 
It is always for your good. The future will prove to you 
the why and wherefore of this disappointment, and you 
will rejoice, even as now you mourn. You will recall what 
I say my dear lady. I have watched your career; and I 
know God needed your voice and you for a higher cause 
and that is why I come to you. Your voice and mine are 
much alike. I love to hear you sing. It is for you to use, 
but not as I did. 

Signed — Litta, The Prima Donna.*' 



This message came thru Planchette. As the mes- 
sages proceeded we realized we were to have a new ex- 
perience. It did not seem just like our former exper- 
iences for we seemed to feel that there was some new 



36 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

force. It gave us a sort of elation, an exhilaration of 
spirit we had not felt before. We both remarked this 
and when Mr. B. told us his name, we somehow felt for 
the first time that the messages were sacred and we should 
no longer doubt their source. 

"Oh how that element of Fear has interfered with 
so many of God's plans. My son, the truth that there is 
possible and probable communication between the Spirit 
world and man must be established. It is coming to be 
in the future years an ordinary thing for men to com- 
municate openly with spiritual beings, even some with 
Christ Himself The time is also coming when angels 
shall walk the earth hand in hand with men, but not sub- 
ject to the forces of earth. Then men will be trans- 
figured. They shall in some instances pass from earth 
life to life in Heaven without death as it is known to man 
now. But this will not come to pass to such men as live 
today. The sting of death will all be removed. A 
longing instead of a dread shall possess them and often 
when man's work — if it be pure — is unfinished and needs 
his further advice and management after he shall have 
taken on the spiritual body, he shall still remain and con- 
tinue in his work until he is not needed any longer. But 
this shall never be against his will. 

"It is altogether wrong for people to weep and 
mourn for loved ones who die. That should be a time 
for rejoicing. They try to open our eyes that we may see 
them as they are." 

Mr. B. Gives Encouragement and Speaks of an 
Old Friend. 

"Hope, that great anchor of the soul; Faith, the 
real possession of all things both temporal and spiritual, 
these two are the foundation of all religion and all life. 
These fill your heart and flood your world with great 
flashes of Light that reveal to you more and more each 
day, the glory that awaits you as a reward for a life 
profitable in the service of the Eternal Father, placing 
you in the race, a winner of the gold medal of Life Eter- 
nal. In these words of encouragement, I stand not be- 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 37 

fore you in the attitude of a proclaimer, but a messenger 
sent by God, a willing bearer of the Good news.'* 

"You have met with many discouragements, many 
disappointments, but here are no such things. We expect 
we receive, we love and love comes in return; we trust 
and are never betrayed. We praise and receive praise. 

I wish that Mrs. Porter could soon be with you. 
It would mean such an uplift to her." 



Sometimes the messages contained some very shock- 
ing truths, as this one of a man whom we knew well and 
had respected. No one will ever know to whom it refers, 
but oh the pity of it all. And we exclaimed, 'Oh if only 
men knew, and would be honest and true. Quoting 
from Emerson, "Death stamps the character and con- 
ditions of men for eternity, as death finds them in this 
world, so they will be in the next." 



"The man over whose body you stood and talked 
today, is in darkness. He sees it all now, how he per- 
sistently shunned God. His inner life was not in accord 
with what you knew and saw. He deceived, so basely 
deceived and is now, poor soul, without a place to rest; 
hunted and alone. Repentance is yet a long way off 
and God has much to forgive. He wept beside his own 
casket, and even now stands upon the frozen mound; 
stark and alone, without one ray of hope that he can see. 
None to meet him, none to cheer him. When in God's 
own time he will begin to see the Light, he will appreciate 
it. All that kind do. Yes, yes, God punishes the hypo- 
crite a plenty." 



Little bits of advice and warning were often doled 
out by Mr. B. To one all unused to such pitfalls, the 
following advice was invaluable. Upon this occasion it 
was a very practical hint. 

1895: "Talk on contentment next Sabbath. I 
will help you. Some of your people need it. You can 
work in the material you already have. I agree with you 



38 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

about the house to house visits with the women. Don't 
do it. See the sick and the old and the infirm, now and 
then a grouch, and all shut-ins; make friends with the 
husbands and brothers. The children will come to you 
for you love them. Avoid every appearance of evil. 
Thank God, you see this as I see it. There are trouble 
makers where ever you go. You find them in the church 
as well as out. Be tactful; live at home; a happy home 
such as yours is a gift of God. It's what every preacher 
needs and ought to have. In this you are a lucky man. 
You are strong in your moral nature. Be thankful for 
this. You despise immorality and hypocrisy. Speak 
plainly on these sins. They go hand in hand." 
My dear Son: 

1896: "When your life shall come to its close it 
will be the end of one of the greatest miracles of all time. 
Your soul strength will be great when you enter here. 
Your human weaknesses will be as naught when counted 
with what you will have gained in spiritual growth and 
strength. Is it not worth hard work and study to have 
gained so much my son? You will have the same ex- 
periences I had and most preachers have." 

"Some will seem to be your friends but down in 
their hearts is eating the canker worm of deceit. Some 
you will love very much, who are trying to work your 
undoing. Poor deluded souls, they do not know that in 
the end their cup will be filled with worm-wood and 
ashes; and they will drink the dregs with bitter tears 
streamng down their cheeks when they shall behold their 
works. They cannot say, 'I did all I could to help him 
and make life easy for him.' Rather their thoughts will 
be, 'Oh if he could come back, how I would help him.' 

"It is ever thus my son. Just keep to the straight 
way and God will prosper your work and many real; 
friends you will find among your people, who will rise up 
and call you blessed." 



Since some of us believe in communication with the 
spirit world, it may not be to our discredit to also believe 
that the men who were once leaders in the affairs of our 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 39 

nation should still be interested in its welfare, and try to 
guide the old ship of state on its wobbly course. On 
February 22, 1896 I received clairaudiently the following 
communication. As I review the conditions brought 
about by the world war, it seems to me that we con- 
sciensciously believe that the prophecy herein contained 
has been, or is being, fulfilled, which leads us to suspect, 
that after all there may be prophets in the spirit world 
who have the power to predict our doings here upon 
earth, and know whereof they speak. (Or was it my 
Subliminal self, my subsoncsious mind, looking down thru 
the years to come, foresaw the great event and caused me 
to place the record upon paper. The afore mentioned 
years passed by, and behold I am yet among the living 
and have seen many things, (naturally, being a minis- 
ters wife) and among them, America as the Peace maker. 



February, 22 1896. "This is a day that ought to 
be observed with more reverent demonstration than the 
American nation observes it today. There should be a 
better observance of more than Washington's birthday 
in order to awaken more true patriotism in the hearts of 
the young. 

America is the great lever that will one day move 
the world in which you live. America will rise above 
all pettiness; all desire to rule; and those nations who 
today rule with an iron hand, will become submissive 
to the persuasions of America for "Peace and good will 
towards men.' Some of them have good rulers, true, 
conscientious to the last degree. But the Ministers of 
State are the real rulers and until God in His Innnijtei 
mercy takes the scepter into His own hands, wars and 
trouble and turmoils will prevail. 

Let America be the Peace maker, as God intended. 
George Washington came here many years ago, but he 
is still marching down thru the years, like a mighty king, 
and his spirit will continue to lead the grand proces- 
sion of such men as have graced the chair of state which 
he once occupied; and these followers will never turn 



40 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

back. Think you a Lincoln's work could ever be done? 
Ah, my son, his spirit is still and will always sweeten 
the minds of men; and the world will ever hear the echo 
of his footsteps. He is a man approved of God. Such 
men march on forever. Solid fronted, they pace the 
shores of Eternity, flinging forth the banner of the 
Hosts of the Great Beyond. They stand beneath its 
folds, watching and trusting, looking not backward, but 
forward toward the future of all things. 

Patriotism? It does not mean wars and disturbances. 
It means brotherly fealty; it means race free; it means 
a freedom that cannot be limited; a freedom so big, so 
deep, so glorious that it can clasp the whole world in 
its embrace and say indeed and in truth, "Peace on earth 
good will toward men." ' 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 41 



CHAPTER VI 

I have read criticisms of message's received by- 
others, and much fault is found because little or nothing 
is told of what goes on in the spirit world. Back in the 
year 1897, long before I had read these criticisms and 
long before I ever dreamed that the world would be in 
the least concerned one way or another, we received 
the following account of the celebration of Easter Sunday 
in Spirit World. 

The minister had spent much time and thought in 
the preparation of his sermon for that day, but he did 
not feel at all satisfied with what he had done. Then, 
to use his own words he said, "I wish Mr. B. would give 
me a few "pointers" on my Easter sermon. Without 
further solicitation this message was given, clairaudient- 
ly. While it contained little that could be used in a 
sermon, it was instructive, and a pleasure to hear about. 
Ever after Easter brought the memory of that discription. 



April, 1897. "It is one of the easiest things in 
the world to talk upon an Easter topic. There is but 
one great central thought no matter how you may em- 
bellish it. There is no other subject that inspires as the 
subject of the Resurrection. Have no fear, you will re- 
ceive the inspiration. You are somewhat depressed by the 
cloudy sky. All that will pass off and you will see 
clearly enough by and by." 

"I wish you could see the celebration of the Resur- 
rection here for we do celebrate it here. We all feel 
a quiet creeping upon us and about us. There is a joy- 
ous sensation which thrills us. I cannot tell you all we 
experience for it is felt spiritually, but we seem to be 
lifted up and borne about in a delightful bath of mellow 
light all purified by a feeling of great love. Then we 
hear the angelic Hosts breathing ever so softly and 



42 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

gently their chants of praise in low, love strains. Then 
burst the hallelujahs and glories from all Heaven. This 
is not deafening as it would be to you, but a joyous glad 
refrain, and the chorus lasts a long time. We are all 
abroad with flowers and every delightful experience is 
ours. 

"We see Christ standing in our midst with His 
glorious smile upon His face as it were the smile of wel- 
come to a dying saint, but so sweet and tender as £t 
grows, as He says, with uplifted hand, "Not to me, but 
to my Father and thine, sing these hallelujahs today." 
Then we bow before Him and worship Him. The music 
does not cease, but grows mellower and softer, and for 
a long time we sing these songs of Paradise; and the 
celebration does not come to any abrupt ending, but 
blends into what comes to us as we go on from work to 
work. Then when your celebration of the event is end- 
ed, we go on with our earthly ministrations. I can 
never tell you, nor can you understand, but some day 
you will hear it with me as we will stand in the midst of 
it, and recall this poor attempt of mine to describe it to 
you. I will be with you on the morrow my son, and 
many more will be with me." 



Judging from the words of praise, and commend- 
ation of Mr. B. it is fair to presume that the ministers 
Easter sermon was satisfactory. 

Easter, 1897: "I promised you a good time today, 
my son, and you cannot imagine any better results from 
any sermon you have preached since coming to D. To- 
morrow you must send the message to your friend. You 
will get more help from your missionary society than all 
the rest of the church. Many do not favor gifts for mis- 
sions. Tonight your sermon will be the means of starting 
more than one sinner upon the race." 

"These Sabbath afternoons are the times when 
your friend longs for some word from us. (This re- 
ference is made to Dr. C. H. B. ) You are most fortunate 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 43 

my son. I shall be with you tonight and you will feel my 
presence." 

"You have touched a new chord in the hearts and 
lives of some of your hearers. You have today removed 
a great stumbling block from the path of one who list- 
ened. The man on the front seat needs a little hard 
personal work. I want you to know I was present and to 
prove to you that I could read his desire, I will tell you 
that in the not far distant future he will come to you and 
tell you the effect your sermon this morning had upon 
him, to the end that he should make a decision." (This 
man afterwards came to the minister saying he had chos- 
en to live a better life and unite with the church.) 

"Faithfully you are doing your duty; sacred in- 
deed is this duty, but so hard oftimes to perform. The 
days approaching hold some discouragements for you, 
but do not falter; nothing now can change the course of 
events, that is a settled fact." 

"Your sermon Sabbath morning is recorded here. 
Such demonstrations in the hearts of your listeners can- 
not be passed unnoticed. Do not wait for a reaction, 
but keep putting just that kind of sermon at them and 
into them, and presently you will see grand results. You 
can do this. Be faithful and work on." 

"I want you to preach Christ so plainly that men 
can see Him as He rises out of that tomb. Spare no 
effect, no action. Put yourself in that sacred place and 
God will inspire you and fill your heart with power and 
fire of angelic speech." 

"Dexter, 1897: "I see ahead a marked change 
coming toward you from which you will receive strength 
and advancement. A larger and more useful field is 
now before you. I will not say further than this now." 

Mr. B. 

Feb. 1898. "I wish you knew all the good you 
are doing. You are not winning hearts to yourself only, 
but you are winning hearts for Christ. Sermons like 
yours today are not without a great power for good. I 
stood beside you today and saw the truth you proclaimed, 
go home to more than one heart there. The man who 



44 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

has sung for you is all but a Christian and you can make 
him one. He has that within him that is very pleasing 
to God, and you can develope that spirit into a righteous 
life." (This came true) 

"I wish you to be content with what you have for 
a while longer. Be content, I say. That word has many 
meanings, but in this sense, it has but one and you will 
understand. I shall be with you in your service to-night 
and help you, and it will be well with you. You are im- 
proving, gaining all the time." 

Mr. B. 

Seldom was there a confusion of voices, but often 
there were sounds that I could not account for. Once 
we were singing the hymn 'Bread of Heaven* which we 
had been told was Mr. B's favorite hymn, when I heard 
his voice join with ours to the conclusion of the hymn. 
He then exclaimed, "Why not?" 

Most of the messages at this time were received 
clairaudiently. They were the most satisfactory and to 
me most interesting, perhaps because I felt an elation, a 
sort of out-of-the-body feeling, so to speak. A lifting 
out of worldly things into a purer atmosphere, as tho I 
were receiving personally, exclusive of what it might 
mean to others. I knew not whence, nor whither, but 
with Emerson, "Always our being is descending into us 
from we know not whence." I could feel those active 
spirits working with all their might, to help us. And the 
voices? Well, I cannot say more. Perhaps your im- 
agination may supply the rest. To hear again the voice 
of a loved one gone into spirit life. 

Emerson says, "The spirit of prophecy is innate in 
every man." Not all possess the gift to use the pro- 
phetic power. In many it strikes a discord, and from 
their limited knowledge they exclaim, 'Bosh!' I have 
heard it and read it to my souls bitter content. But let 
us have patience, we who seem so dwarfed in mind, and 
let the future with its certain truths drag the veil from 
human eyes. Then all will see, hear, and know. 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 45 

"Have patience I replied; ourselves are full of 
Social wrongs, and may be wildest dreams 
Are but the needful preludes of the truth. 
For me, the genial day, the happy crowd, 
The sport-half-science, fill me with a faith. 
This fine old world of ours is but a child 
Yet in the go-cart. Patience! Give it time 
To learn its limbs; there is a hand that guides 

Tennyson. 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 47 



CHAPTER VII 

July 1894. "I wish you could see with whajt avidi- 
ty we take hold of this work. We look forward to these 
meetings with as much pleasure as you do. I must ex- 
plain that there are various avenues thru which we can 
work. There are others who can do many things be- 
cause of different manifestations. Some have one pow- 
er developed, some another. These gifts are varied ac- 
cording to temperament, etc.'* 

"Electricity is a word you cannot understand. 
There are several branches from the fountain head. 
They are known as 'magnetism*, 'automatic writing,' 
'clairvoyance,' 'clairaudience' and the power to see. You 
could scarcely expect to find all these in one person, but 
some have more than one. One who is clairvoyant 
scarcely ever has any of the other powers developed. 
We, here, do not favor clairvoyance. It is injurious to 
the body, and where indulged in for long periods, is apt 
to affect the mind, while these other methods are perfect- 
ly sane and harmless. You see man's nervous system is 
so constructed that it cannot be played upon all the time 
without getting out of tune. Clairaudience is by far the 
highest order of communication. Very few possess this 
power. Few have developed it." 

"Never ask for tests simply for the sake of cold 
curiosity. You know us now and believe in us because 
you have seen our works." 

Mr. B. 



Some of the impersonal portions of the messages 
give reasonable explanations of life after death, especi- 
ally in what they designate as the earth realm. 



48 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

THE REALMS 

"As the spirit advances from realm to realm, we 
call this growth. The realm nearest to earth is called 
the earth realm, while there is no end to these realms, 
or conditions of the soul here, there is a desire in most 
of us to go on and on, altho we know now that there is no 
end to be reached. Eternity is eternity. It means no 
end. Life here is learning, learning all the time. New 
things all the time. It would seem that we must reach 
a climax some time, somewhere. But mind you we earn 
every step of the way. No laggards here. We cannot 
lean on others here. It is every fellow for himself, and 
while there is no rivalry there is the greatest delight in 
accomplishment. As we advance we take on other and 
brighter conditions. Our transportation from realm to 
realm is always accompanied by a train of angelic ones, 
who sing and rejoice with us." 

"Respecting our occupations, we carry on business 
here the same as on earth. You may say, "I thought 
everybody was busy saving souls." I say, 'What are we 
saving them for?" "What is the ultimate aim and end 
of their existence? Are they simply to be saved and 
nothing more?" (A reproduction of this message some 
of you may have seen in a most delightfully fascinating 
book called The World Beautiful*, third edition by the 
noted authoress, Miss Lilian Whiting, whom I met in 
Boston, in the late nineties, and who published a few 
extracts from some of the messages received by me.) 

"God has business for us all. We help to manipu- 
late the business of earth thru different avenues by cor- 
responding business here, manipulated in a different way 
of course, and far advanced. No heavy material, no 
clanging of machinery is heard, but we all manage some 
kind of business. We have our tools to work with, our 
material to manufacture and put in use. We have our 
stations where we go for information and instructions, — 
all this is done above a certain realm. Up to that stage 
there is simply soul saving." 

"The work I speak of is on a higher plain of heaven- 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 49 

ly existence after we have worked out our soul's salva- 
tion. All homes have their foundation in what is called 
character. You must finish them after you come here. 
There are explorations to be made, but science has no 
victory here. Nothing is undiscovered pertainrhg to 
science." 

"We live in an atmosphere of holy communion on 
this higher plane. We visit, we plan, go forth when and 
where we will in our realm, because after we have reach- 
ed this plane we are supposed to, and in reality do, pos- 
sess a pure and purified existence and are at liberty to go 
and come at will. We cannot, it is impossible for us, to 
do anything contrary to God's law here. It is High 
Heaven. 'The Great White Throne' is here, but not as 
you think about it. There are angles here, and arch- 
angels going everywhere ministering unto others and do- 
ing the will of the Master." 

July, 1894: "The first awakening of the spirit 
is to believe in the existence of God. Then the upbuild- 
ing begins. This Heaven to which you will come belongs 
to all earth's people. Myriads of worlds there are. 
Myriads of Heavens there are, but one God, one Christ 
Spirit for them all. This earth heaven is the only one I 
can tell you about now. 

"There is but one great Father who loves and gov- 
erns all. Had you a thousand years to live, and I were 
permitted, I could not tell you even the smallest part of 
it." 

"Something new and great is coming up all the time. 
Now I have spoken of labor here, not as you know it, for 
there is no fatigue, no weariness attached to it. There 
are means of discovering the invisible. You know this 
now, that Heaven is all around you, but created as you are 
you cannot see behind the veil without the means to lift 
it. There is between the mind of man to man, darting 
backward and forward with lightning speed, attracting 
forces, an electric current, which, if united, would create 
a circle. Thoughts go on this electric circle flying from 
place to place. It takes in the whole of your world. 
Your thoughts fly from place to place where you have 



50 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

loved ones and friends. This forms a circle around you, 
and like lightning goes this force, round and round, then 
to the central station. Oh how powerful is thought. 
All this is visible to us. Thought goes swiftly and strikes 
deep. Can you not see how necessary it is to think pure 
thoughts?" 

"There are those gone into spirit life with the same 
lackadaisical useless spirit they had here on earth, and to 
these, missionaries are sent to rouse them and stir the 
latent forces within them, ere they sink to despair; telling 
them what awaits them if they will only try. Sometimes 
the saints are sent upon this mission, just to show these 
earth plane spirits what it is possible for them to become 
if they will only awaken and bestir themselves to action. 
Some of these spirits wander around without desire, 
without aim; others have the desire, but without help they 
are unable to break away and rise. So you see the great 
need for missionaries. All the preaching that is neces- 
sary is to encourage and help them to be lifted up; that is 
all, because they realize the existence of Christ and the 
fatherhood of God. That has become a positive thing to 
them. The mysteries are all done away with, all solved 
now. Just reality now, forever more." 

There are those sitting in total darkness, who seem 
to have no desire for anything, not even to come out of 
their darkness. So stupid are they in their sins, they do 
not realize their terrible condition. They are so dazed 
with evil that seemingly, they cannot awake enough 
to have a desire to be anything more than they are. 
There are always numberless helpers ready and waiting 
to assist the wayward ones. No jealousy is here. Each 
rejoices in the others attainments." 



Given an interesting account of occupations in the 
spirit world, together with unrevealed sources of inven- 
tions and discoveries, I always feel that in all the mes- 
sages there is a lack, a fragmentariness, a sense of some- 
thing left out, something they wish to say, but cannot. 

While to us it may seem highly fanciful, (a very 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 51 

human way of putting it,) who knows how near to the 
human, life in spirit land may be. Their descriptions of 
their occupations, are certainly very like ours, altho with 
a tremenduous difference. 



"Earth has a great mission to perform. Every plan, 
every movement is directed from this side. All the dis- 
coveries, all the inventions, are gradually doled out from 
this side, keeping in reserve all the time for each genera- 
tion." 

"My son, you are in need of greater opportunity 
and to this end I am hastening your affairs. The pend- 
ulum is coming towards us now with a steady swing, and 
its mighty weight is well balanced, for as I have means 
of judging, together, as pastor and people, you have 
accomplished a great deal. Now, in spite of all their 
entreaties to remain with them, I see you must deny them, 
and it is best so. I have more to say upon this subject, 
but not now. 

Mr. B. 

The above was given after Mr. Staley's call to an- 
other church. His people were loath to give him up, 
but Mr. B. said the change must be made. And his word 
was law. 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 53 



CHAPTER VIII 

Deep in our hearts we wished to know more about 
Christ; His personal appearance and what he is like now, 
and we thirsted for more knowledge of his earthly life, 
but as we had been requested not to ask many questions 
we waited and hoped that our longing would be satisfied. 
I cannot say that we were ever quite satisfied, but little by 
little it was given to us, something like the following. 



August, 1894. "Christ is made manifest to all 
Heaven, as He sees fit, — thru what I shall call a process 
of photography perhaps. Thus impressions are made 
manifest to spirit eyes in the different realms, high and 
low, and we all understand that these impressions upon 
which we gaze should be received by us as sacredly and 
reverently as the very presence itself. Nor does He shut 
Himself away from any, for as the case demands He 
comes in His full glory to us, and it is to us often more 
than we can bear. We could no more endure this Pres- 
ence continually, as the impression comes to us, than could 
your eyes endure a continuous gaze into a blazing midday 
sun. So He tempers these impressions, according as we 
are able to endure. And we know He is ever with us." 



Reverently I approach the subject of the Virgin 
Birth. I have nothing to add. It is too sacred a subject 
for me to attempt to comment upon. I shall never forget 
the voice who gave it to me. It was in 1 896. 

THE VIRGIN BIRTH 

"You take away the 'Virgin Birth* and| you bury 
your Christ. Christ knew from the beginning that His 
conception never came thru the loins of man. He thus 



54 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

would have been conceived in sin and Christ was not con- 
ceived in sin. Mary was a pure virgin because she was 
pure in mind and body, and was different in many ways 
from other maidens of her time. Mary was not what you 
would call in your time a strictly intellectual person. She 
was sweet and simple and modest to a fault, tempera- 
mentally quiet and unassuming, and lived in her higher 
self. She was very pious. God spoke to Mary in her 
early youth and she always felt that she was chosen for 
some good work, but did not know what it was to be. 
Mary stood ready to be used in any way her Lord de- 
sired. Her perfectly pure life thus fitted her to be the 
bride of the Holy Spirit. God then performed his great- 
est miracle." 

Question: What about those who do not believe 
in the Immaculate Conception and talk and preach 
against it? 

Answer: "Oh, they will continue to do so, but the 
fact remains just the same. You would be surprised, 
could I tell you of the numbers who have come to be- 
lieve thru this means alone," (Spirit Communication). 

Again we are told of a miracle to be performed; 
when or how, we do not know. The spirit of Infinite Wis- 
dom has seen fit to give us just this little hint of great 
things to come. We should always keep ourselves open 
to these statements of truth. It is wonderful to think of 
communication with the inhabitants of other planets, but 
more wonderful still is it that the means given will be con- 
ceived in the mind of a boy. And yet, "A little child 
shall lead them." Then comes the prophecy — And the 
world shall believe it." Is it because it is on a material 
plane, instead of a spiritual one? Yet how infinitely more 
important it is to believe that communication with the 
spirit world is a fact today. 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 55 



CHAPTER IX 

1911. "The mind of a boy is to conceive it and 
the world is to believe it. It is the opening of the veil.* 
You will not see it as your children will. But man has 
cut the cord at last and God is moving back the curtain. 
Angel faces are peeping thru only waiting for the com- 
mand to go forth upon their mission. They have here- 
tofore been unseen but now they go among you seen of 
men. Let your minds be open to them for no unbeliever 
shall see. Once seeing, always believing. 

You of earth can never feel the restraint of the laws 
of God as we feel them here. You are anxious to com- 
mune with us, but your anxiety is very tame compared 
with ours. Some of the money hoarded by men who 
have accumulated millions, is to be used for this demon- 
stration. The irony of it! And as yet it is to be con- 
ceived in the mind of a boy. Oh it won't be so long! 
And this too is to come to pass in the present century — 
"Communication with the planets." This is to be a chance 
discovery and men will wonder that it was not known be- 
fore. Its very simplicity is a wonder. It does away with 
space, with distance. Venus will be first visited. There 
is a similarity between this discovery and the wireless. It 
will not need to wait for response, but will record condi- 
tions with its mechanism. Now you must wait. I will 
tell you more another time. I do not wish to gorge you. 
My mission is to awaken interest so your thoughts may 
help to bring these things about sooner. 



We were permitted to ask questions about spirit 
warnings. While the replies were not altogether satis- 
factory, they gave us food for thought. There seems to 
be a purpose in all things, even the disasters that mark the 
way of human life. Spirit being all knowing and omni- 
present, they see and know all that we mortals have to 



56 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

contend with. Receptive listening seems to be necessary 
in order to be open to the warnings. Sometimes as we 
know, they come as presentiments, and \ to some they 
come when they see the spirit form of someone gone out 
of this life. The minister to whom this message was giv- 
en, never had any such experience, but he believed the 
testimony of some who had. 

Diametrically opposed opinions of whatsoever kind, 
have been maintained among men since ever he began 
to reason. 

Now there are some rather startling statements in 
these messages. It takes strong faith and deep desire for 
spiritual knowledge to so much as tolerate them. How- 
ever the minister was big enough and broad enough to 
hark back to the time, when he himself scoffed at "the 
whole business." So in giving out these strange mes- 
sages I recall his sweet toleration toward unbelievers 
and those who scoffed whenever he broached the subject 
of spiritism. He was told that in times when warnings 
are given, spirit hands are laid upon us in such a way that 
we seem to know they mean danger. We do not know 
it is spirit warnings, we only sense danger. Sometimes 
a lesson must be taught and the disaster is allowed to 
come with no warning to us. What we call hair-breadth- 
escapes are the intervention of Providence. 



"There are few people who can resist the forces we 
throw out. We cannot and would not control the life of 
any man but we can and do use a great influence for good. 
In many cases we succeed in pulling a man out of many 
bad predicaments. Some people do not wish to be in- 
fluenced for good. That is where they battle with con- 
science till very often the devil in them wins, and on they 
go to the destruction they seem to court. You would be 
amazed, could you stand here as we do and witness some 
of these battles and see how they seem to rejoice when 
they have gotten the better of conscience and turn smil- 
ingly toward evil. They cannot see one step ahead of 
them but on they go, stumbling along in the dark, doing 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 57 

the evil thing that wise conscience has begged them not 
to do. Perhaps remorse sets in, to last only until next 
time. The labor of the good forces has been in vain in 
such cases. 

Mr. B." 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 59 



CHAPTER X 

More advice and encouragement is given the young 
minister who had rather belittled his ability to meet the 
requirements of his chosen profession. Always grateful 
for advice from the spirit world, he now accepts greedily 
the knowledge of the possibility of better things to come. 



1897. "The fragrance of the rose is pleasing to the 
senses, but continually inhaled, it becomes lost, as a de- 
lightful odor, and is no more a choice pleasure, but a 
common thing. One's appreciation slackens and the keen 
pleasure ceases to give joy. The freshest blossoms do 
not seem to be what they once were, and are cast aside as 
no longer desirable. One after another God's choicest 
blessings are often cast aside, no longer desired by those 
upon whom He has bestowed them. 

"My son, use every blessing for there is none so 
poor that it cannot add in some measure to your growth 
and fit you for the great work of life to which you are 
called. Let none become to you an insignificant thing. 
You have just entered upon a newer broader field of 
thought. It is rich with knowledge. 'Digging into it* you 
can only pierce the sub-soil. However your searchings 
will be rewarded. But my son, in this field you will find 
many great boulders. Those you must go around for 
you can never move them. With care, you will go on 
and on. Step lightly, and be sure the torch you carry is 
lit by God, not man. 

"I have told you before that the old shall be made 
new. It surely will be. It's 3 consistant 'theory*, but this 
truth looks to the uninitiated to be the very crater of hell 
itself. You cannot jump to the heights to which it will 
lead you, but by slow ascent you will grasp a great deal, 
enough to be one to whom is given the privilege to give 
this unfoldment of Truth to the world in its right form. 



GO THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

For long periods this Truth has lain dormant and with 
now and then a partial resurrection. Now it will come in 
power. Don't get radical on the subject. Be solid and 
sane in your views. It is but a stepping stone to broader 
views. The world has become dissatisfied with the child- 
ish doctrines of long ago and demands the real truth 
about things. 

"There was a figure in that old story, sight of which 
must never be lost. There was and is truth in it all. But 
men understand God better now. Let those who may, 
say to the contrary. Men worshipped a God of fear. 
There is to come great warfare and strife. It will come 
but do not worry. It comes to purify. Please God in all 
things and pray in secret, much. 

Mr. B." 



It seems to me that in the face of present facts, the 
closing lines of this communication given us in 1897, are 
peculiarly prophetic and worthy of consideration. 



From among the mass of various kinds of writings 
that I have stored away, testimonials from that unknown 
world, I have chosen those writings which I deem of the 
most importance to those of us who know little or nothing 
of such things. When realms and conditions there, are 
mentioned, we have only to meet the question with our 
most vivid imagination. Even then we are like helpless 
leaves in the wind. But we listen and strive to learn, 
while our poor human brains ache with the impossibleness 
of its task. But we want more each day; we go to the 
quiet place and listen and we are always rewarded by 
something new made known to us. 

Nearly all the remaining messages of this book were 
given me clairaudiently, a few by automatic writing, and 
still fewer by planchette. 



'Dear Son: 

"Where I am now there are those who have spent a 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 61 

lifetime in the service of the Master, together with those 
who have advanced thru purity of life on earth thru the 
realms below. 

"There are certain conditions more \ than places. 
There are places. The homes as you rise from realm to 
realm are grander and more beautiful. And here arises 
a question: Why are these homes in these several realms 
if the soul is eternally rising? Ans. You carry your home 
with you. You see, we do not build with brick and mor- 
tar here. They are spiritual homes, so as we rise our 
homes rise with us. The first foundation of these homes 
is character. As we progess, they grow more and more 
beautiful, beyond anything even we can comprehend. 
They become spiritual palaces, a delight to us all, the 
description of which I am incapable of giving you. 

"Congenial souls blend here and never separate. I 
shall always be near you, because there has grown up be- 
tween us this bond of love and helpfulness, ordained of 
God. You say where are our friends? They are scat- 
tered just as all are scattered. Some come immediately 
to me, others, and some of those my best loved, will have 
a long tedious journey. But I am waiting and God is 
merciful. Their dwelling place will be far away for a 
long time. Oh I would have gathered them as a hen gath- 
ers her brood, but they would not. But I see them some- 
times. I am well pleased with you my son, whom I have 
chosen to carry on my work. Yes, I am well pleased, but 
I knew it. 

"Your application was great. Many a time have I 
thrashed my people with my own shortcomings and trans- 
gressions, and those very sermons did more good than 
any of my attempts at theology. I guess I never had much 
theology about me anyway. The seed you sowed today 
will soon sprout. The great Inspirer will expand that 
growth. 

Mr. Br 

In the above I believe Mr. B. referred to his own 
shortcomings to sort of sooth the young minister's unrest 
over a sermon he had preached the previous day, for he 



62 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

had remarked to me that he felt all thru the sermon as 
though he were preaching to himself, and that he need- 
ed it. 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 63 



CHAPTER XI 

Follows a mention of the presence of Jesus Christ 
among the hosts of Heaven, materialization of spirit bod- 
ies, preparation for the future life, etc. 



"There are points of light that illumine the souls of 
men. Here we know it is the Light of God, mortals call 
it a desire for the good. As Jesus Christ, in His master- 
ful way moves among the angels here we who have been 
mortals are lifted to the heights in an ecstasy of feeling 
we cannot describe. After He has passed we are so filled 
with love, spirit tho we are, that we seem to take on 
again the mortal form and crucify it again and again so 
to be like Him. 

"It is then that it is easiest to materialize. If only 
we can reach the soul on earth whose belief is strong 
enough to see. Some are strong and willing to see, even 
anxious. Sometimes our visits are ill-timed and the world 
and its cares or excitements, stand between us and we 
wait, but all to no purpose. Often they say, I felt my 
loved one very close to me today. It seemed I could see 
him, but I did not. Now, for those who have this feeling, 
let me say at once become quiet and speak aloud to the 
loved one and give him a chance to speak to you. Get a 
pencil and paper, rest your arm lightly upon the table and 
see if you will not get a message. Sometimes it would be 
put into your mind very distinctly when it could not 
come thru your fingers by automatic writing. But I say, 
always give us a chance. Too often the door is closed in 
our faces. Too often we are motioned away. 

"If you only knew how hard we try to make our 
presence known and felt, and the longing of our spirits 
to have our earth friends welcome us. I have stood by 
the hour, by my dear wife before she came here, begging 
her to speak to me. But she did not know. There was 



64 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

one near to her who condemned this truth, who some day- 
will stand where I stand and he will call and call, and 
none will answer. There are many such. I wish you 
knew what God thinks of a conceited man. 

"To those who waver, let me say, it doesn't pay. 
You are only wasting time. When you come here you 
must begin at the bottom. The bottom of what? Why 
you must begin as a little child. If you have not grown 
in this Truth while on earth, you cannot expect to enter 
the senior class any more than a babe could enter a class 
in physics or chemistry or any high grade of education. 
And you can't escape it either. You will want to, oh, 
how you'll want to, but it cannot be done. Down you go 
into the baby class. 

"You look ahead and around you and see i those 
whom you consider your inferiors and say, 'How does it 
come that these can go on, and I am put here with these 
weaklings. Don't you know how I was always a leader 
of men) A man of wealth and position, a man of great 
education? Why I was one of earth's great men and here 
I am classed with these.' No use my friend, you should 
have thought of that before. It's too late now. God is 
no respector of persons. Now, is your chance. You 
have the opportunity to study and learn of great things. 

"The Truth that Jesus taught was the sureness of life 
after death and the fact that earth souls could commun- 
icate with those gone on to their long home, was demon- 
strated in His time. Don't turn a deaf ear to a sure thing. 
Don't revel in your self-conceit, thinking because you do 
not believe a certain thing, it simply does not exist. Re- 
adjust your thinking. Get into the Spirit of trust. Think 
less of yourself and your conceits and more about God 
and His wonders. 

"That mystery of mysteries, — what happens just af- 
ter the body dies? 

"A bad man sees before him the remorse he after- 
wards finds burning his soul and taking away his happi- 
ness. Most spirits try to re-enter the body. They know 
that body was once their hiding place, and if they can 
only get back into it, they will be hidden from the agony 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 65 

they felt from just that one glimpse of Heaven. Often 
there is great darkness and gloom. Sometimes those he 
has wronged in earth life come to meet him. Of course 
he is forgiven, but he doesn't know it. 

"A good man leaves his body without regret and 
soon enters the magnificent home he built while on 
earth, — we call it character.* * (We were cautioned about 
preserving these records, for some day they would be 
read by others than ourselves. We asked Mr. B. to tell 
us how warnings were given. His answer was this) : 

"I come to you and say, 'Come, I have something 
to say to you, come with me. I have something to say to 
you. Why do you not come with me? I keep on in 
this way until our spirits seem to blend and you feel the 
presence and that presence causes fear to enter your 
mind and that fear develops caution. You cannot ac- 
count for it, but you yield to it and are saved from some 
possible disaster. There is a side to every one that is 
open to ethereal influence. It is never closed. Thru 
this we gain access to the soul of man. Through this are 
given warnings." 

The mystery of the separation of the spirit body 
from the human body is explained here. Mr. B. gives 
more interesting information. 



"When the soul departs from the body, in other 
words, when the body drops away from the soul, the soul 
or spirit does not immediately leave. To be sure, it is free, 
but unlike the locust, it does not immediately take its 
flight. Like the seed planted in the earth, the new life 
germinates. Now do not understand me as saying there 
is anything holding the soul to the body. But there is a 
lingering in the vicinity of the body. Now, the departing 
soul should feel no regret, except pity for those who 
mourn. 

"In the case of those who take their lives, the soul 
is crushed for a time with the body and cannot rise. This 
is a part of their punishment. God has not called this 
soul. It is man's work and clumsily done. Not left to 



66 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

free itself thru the aid of the Father of all Spirits. It is 
very hard for you to discriminate between the innocent 
and the guilty. Some deliberately and wilfully take upon 
themselves this responsibility, while others suffer from a 
weakened intellect which has made them irresponsible. It 
has been said that no man in his right mind would do 
this thing, but this is wrong. There are hundreds who 
deliberately force themselves into the presence of the Al- 
mighty, unasked. It has been explained what their fate is 
here. The worst phase of this is, many of them have un- 
til just before their entrance here, at least, for a short 
time, been innocent. God is merciful and just, and in 
Hit mercy and justice, He discriminates between these 
two classes and they are each dealt with according to His 
will. 

"The young girl betrayed and rejected, forced into 
this world, is not brought to the same class or grade of 
punishment with the man who has broken the command- 
ments and dreads the discovery of his crime. Time must 
pass ere this last class of criminals is permitted to enter 
Heaven except the very lowest grades of the earth realm. 
Yet, even here, God is merciful. The remorse and suffer- 
ing of these spirits, which are called floating spirits, be- 
cause they know no rest, is most deplorable. The visionary 
may perhaps conceive some small part of the meaning of 
my words. But to an ordinary mind there is no knowl- 
edge, or the smallest conception of what I mean. Let me 
give you an idea, slight as it may be, of one other condi- 
tion. 

"Those who have striven to rise from realm to 
realm, who have committed some crime, like murder, or 
been instrumental in taking another's life, have prayed 
for forgiveness. It has been granted. They come here 
and all is well, until, in their advancement from realm to 
realm, they encounter the soul they ushered into this 
place. Here again words fail me. They shrink and would 
hide forever. You see, God has forgiven them, has ac- 
cepted them, because they asked His forgiveness, and 
He loves them, but that did not take away the awful 
sting of remorse. They fain would remain forever in 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 67 

these lower realms in order to escape contact with this 
soul. They follow from afar and not until after long 
struggles can they overcome and mount up where this 
one must come in contact with them. 

"It is very hard to translate spirit language back in- 
to the one we knew on earth. Mistakes must be made. 
We cannot help it." 

MESSAGE FROM CLAUDIA 

"From all I have told you dear Marmie, you know 
now that I am happy. Not only I, but everybody here. 
In spite of the wretchedness of earth, in spite of the fact 
that we see and know it all, we are happy. I have al- 
ways had companions of my own age, congenial souls, 
and we never grow old here. We never see decrepit old 
bodies dragging themselves along as you see them. The 
spirit body is perfect in every respect, and grows more 
and more beautiful by contact with this world. It is such 
a joy to see only fresh young faces. Not a soul here but 
suffers remorse sooner or later, but each bears his own 
burden and the hope that is within us buoys us up to high 
aims and joyous expectations. 

"We have fun here, yes, there are regular laugh 
feasts. You know I couldn't get along without my fun. 
You'd laugh to see the old sobersides here. Well, there 
aren't any. This is no place for a sobersides. It is laugh 
or be miserable. Why innocent laughter, such as you 
know, is inborn in the spirit, just as much as a longing to 
be good is inborn in most human beings. 

"I seem to be a favorite with children here, Marmie. 
I think it is because I have always been a child myself. 
The way things are planned here for the entertainment 
of children is beyond description. They must grow, and 
there is every facility for their proper growth, and not a 
hindrance anywhere. Such beautiful playtimes; such 
glorious music; birds and every joyous thing that children 
love. And above all, no quarreling. Ha ha! Isn't that 
an unheard of thing? Just laughter and love and happi- 
ness among them. No snatching of playthings, no crying, 



68 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

no pouting, and last but not least, no smutty faces. Sweet 
clean little cherubs! How I love them. Don't think that 
I have seen all the children in Spirit world. 

"There are laws here the same as in your world. 
There must be laws. 

"Nell, you cannot realize what awaits you here. I 
could tell you a lot about it, but I am afraid I might make 
you discontented. You are doing some fine work about 
now. Keep It up. 

"A young man that you and I never knew on earth 
is here, and we are great companions. His name was 
Dell. ^ 

"I am glad to see Helene's future so bright. Art is 
the finest work of God. His work is all a work of art, that 
no man can ever attain to. I shall be very near you dur- 
ing the Easter time, for then is when the angels visit the 
earth in a more glorious garb and with a holier mission 
than at any other time. 

"I wish you to tell my friends of all this. I am sorry 
Doctor is no closer. He will believe some day, but we 
must never censure nor blame. It is too wonderful for 
some to believe. Think you God has stopped at this 
crude stage? Is the world perfect in the present rough 
state? Oh, no. He has wonderful surprises in store for 
this world, but they must come one at a time. The pres- 
ent age is one of the greatest because it is the one that 
draws aside the veil between the earth and the spirit 
world. Greater things are to come. 

"Well, I must not weary you. I will come again 
soon. 

Claudia." 

(The Nellie referred to here, is Claudia's sister. 
Helene, is the daughter of Nellie.) 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 69 



CHAPTER XII 

"The flowers of heaven are like the flowers of earth 
in many respects. They do not grow from soil, but just 
spring everywhere. When one is broken from its stem 
another comes to take its place. No devastation is seen 
anywhere, order and beauty rule supreme. Not alone do 
flowers and plants exude perfume, but every thing has 
its own ravishingly delicate scent, which prevades every- 
thing. No material thing is here, but sometimes the sem- 
blance of it. Everything is tempered to our needs. We 
have all freedom wherein to wander, and all opportunity 
to advance. We have senses, of course they too are spirit 
senses, and oh, how happy we are. 

"Our mode of travel from place to place as you call 
it? You wonder how this is done. Oh, we just appear. 
We have told you, thought brings us. I will tell you as 
nearly as I can, so you may understand in part. I wish 
to go to 'my son Mr. Staley* at Chautauqua. His thought 
is calling me. I am spirit. I have at my command the 
power of spirit to go and come at will, a free agent. I 
cannot explain to you our mode of transportation, except 
that we go on spirit waves. It is not possible, but God 
has so planned that we have always with us, what you 
would call a vehicle. What I am about to explain is but 
a faint semblance of its actual appearance. 

"A cloud of mist rolled up, gathered together with 
jewels glistening brightly, with glory that is shed from 
rays from the Master's face. This vehicle, which I shall 
call Mercy, since it is used for that purpose, is adapted to, 
and fitted for the work we have to do. There is about 
it on all sides, and encased in it, an aura which designates 
our personality and by which we are known to all, where- 
ever we may be. It is not that I am seen as you see. The 
spirits here are attracted only by the glory of my vehicle. 



70 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

This description is a very poor one, but I cannot make it 
plainer to you. 

Mr. B." 

"This work to which you are called is no child's 
play. The words spoken, which you have taken pains 
to copy, are inspired words. No scripture was ever more 
pure than this. These records you are preserving shall 
one day be read from one end of your earth to the other. 
Around the earth this truth is bound to reach. You will 
rejoice some day that you were chosen God's desciple to 
do this work, but not as you will when you behold the 
golden letters between the lines, when Christ shall come 
in His glory and lay before you the open book, and upon 
its pages you shall read, 'This mighty Truth was spread 
by me, and thru my instrumentality many souls were 
converted to Christ.' This you shall one day realize. I 
can feel the interest you have taken in this work. Do not 
wish to lay down the burden, but go on as you are led. 

"Some of the most noted men of the next century 
are being raised up to preach this gospel. There are few, 
some of the great ones, who are brave enough to preach 
it today. They are gradually giving out more and more 
of it to their people, so this seed is being sown, little by 
little, grain upon grain, in soil which is ready to receive it. 
This has been a gradual growth in one way. When we 
are ready we shall not wait, but all at once it shall be 
opened and poured out upon the heads of the people. It 
will be a shower some of them are not expecting. Part 
of the world no doubt will be shocked, but the time has 
come when it needs shocking. There are more believers 
today than anyone knows of. 

Mr. B." 

1 894. "All eyes seem directed to me this morning, 
because I am the favored one and can speak to you. You 
may be sure we shall not be idle. The friends you ex- 
pect to see soon are now on their way." (This referred 
to the friends spoken of in the first pages of this book who 
came to Leslie, and who had wonderful experiences 
while there). 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 71 

THE VOICE OF GOD 

"You read that the prophets of old heard the voice 
of God. This is true, in that they heard it just as you 
hear it today. That desire deep in the soul of every man, 
a good impression, you call it a desire to be, or do. The 
difference is, the old prophets not only heard this voice, 
but obeyed it. They recognized these good desires as 
the voice of God and honoured it by obedience to its 
commands. Whenever they turned aside as some did, 
disaster was sure to follow. So they learned that to obey 
was the law of God, and this was God's way of leading 
them as you are being led today. For he has said — "if 
you hear my voice and love me, you will obey me.* Men 
hear, but it is like the passing of the wind. They feel it 
upon their cheek, but heed it not." 

(Mr. B here incites to greater care of the 

body). 

"We have stationed sentinels, you would call them, 
we call them protecting angels, all along the way. You 
wonder sometimes at your impressions and say, 'Is that 
genuine or bogus?* When we have a task to perform we 
never doubt. The face of the Master is not always visi- 
ble to us, but His Glory ever, and we are content. 

"When those real heart impressions come to you, re- 
member to obey them. You have been told that this is 
your training school and I bid you go into the world and 
preach this truth. Some of these things have been given 
you from some of your friends and acquaintances here 
who are suffering remorse from sins against their bodies. 
God has given you a body and placed within it your soul. 
All there can ever be of you. It is the temporal home of 
your soul. Your body should be kept sacred and pure 
for that purpose and you have no more right to contami- 
nate that body than you have to stick a knife into your 
neighbor. It's worse than murder, for you kill your soul, 
while on the other hand you kill only the body of your 
neighbor. Any object you may wrongfully crave, any 
indulgence you may cherish, rots your soul and pollutes 
your body. It is God's body, do you know it? Loaned to 



72 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

you for a time as a carriage to transport your soul thru 
the world. Therefore I say, it does not belong to you to 
abuse and destroy. My dear son, your great desire is to 
do good to others, and I shall help you. Warn men of 
the great disgrace of abusing their bodies. When they 
learn for a certainty that spirit world is all around them, 
they will be ashamed of their disgraceful actions and 
turn to God. Yes we see it all, every bit. 

"We ask you to be very prayerful. The angels are 
singing in glory for the souls that have been saved, for 
the souls here that have been advanced and grown more 
beautiful, because of the interest that has been awakened 
in you toward them. There has been established between 
you and them a strain that vibrates in tune to your heart, 
a strain more sweet than any music earth has ever heard, 
creating within your heart the true spirit of happiness, 
charming all about you with a beauty of purpose the 
reality of which is beyond the comprehension of the mind 
of man. Compare your present attitude toward God 
with your former knowledge of Him and His works, your 
small possessions of heart and mind with the great riches 
you now possess, riches you can bring with you when you 
come here. They are only crumbs from the Master's table 
but you are now ready for the feast, the great feast of the 
soul upon God. 

"Some things we have discussed seemed of little im- 
portance to you. Some seemed impossibilities, some have 
passed without a full understanding. We have tried not 
to mislead you. You have had doubts and fears, but now 
I see in your heart a sweet and perfect trust, a feeling that 
you have been with God and walked with Him. 

"You and yours now know that your friends have 
not gone out of your lives, but that they have entered in- 
to them, and are a part of them. And you now feel you 
have a great and mighty power behind and ahead of you, 
a priceless jewel above all calculation. Yes, my friend, 
you have seen Heaven and walked and talked with the 
angels. You have made the connection between us a 
perfect one, a complete line, that can never be broken. 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 73 

We stand ready and willing at your slightest invitation to 
help you. 

"Be not over-anxious; seek not for signs and won- 
ders, seek knowledge but only through the purest chan- 
nels. The purpose is yet to be shown. A work has been 
started with you that shall spread throughout the world. 
It is Christ born again. You must be ready and willing 
to accept persecutions, remembering it is all for the glory 
of God and His son, Jesus Christ. It is the second coming 
of your Lord and Master, promised in the Bible, for he 
will be seen of men. * Be ye lifted up, even as the son 
of Man was lifted up, that ye may show forth His great 
glory and bring to, and establish upon earth, His King- 
dom, Amen.' " 



Some of his family had warned the minister of the 
shame and disgrace that awaited him should his church 
people make the horrible discovery that their pastor was 
"dabbling in spiritism." Followed a useless discussion in 
which Mr. B. finally took a hand. 



1 894. "Probe as deeply as they may into this truth, 
turn upon it their strongest lens, they will find no fault. 
Those great ones may come and pry and probe, but they 
are only stepping into a new life and before they know 
it, will be living in the atmosphere of a wonderful world. 
We have nothing to hide. We need no screens to shield 
us or our doings from the world, for we are in obedience 
to the command of Christ, the Savior of us all. 

"There is nothing to be ashamed of. You will see 
this when you consider the fact that God has seen fit to 
so privilege us, to commune and advise with those who 
are upon another plane of life. It seems to me that in- 
stead of censure or distrust and shame, that poor mortal 
man should bow his head in his weakness, and fear lest 
his doubts destroy him. So 'Lift up the Standard before 
the people. Open ye the Gates that the King of Glory 
may come in.' All space is peopled with the hosts from 
the Heavenly Shrine. Some are purified who roam at will. 



74 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

Others, who, like us, have chosen one to whom they can 
render assistance. I repeat what has been said before. 
The next decade is the beginning of a great awakening 
and wonderful development of this power. 

'This truth creates such a delightful atmosphere in 
the home. It raises the standard of society. Too much 
time is frittered away. Amusement is commendable, but 
you cannot see as we see, and to you it does not seem 
dreadful, these society amusements. Could you look 
deeper, as we do, my friends, and see 'Society' with its 
vices, its weaknesses, oft times among refined, educated 
people, your spirit would shudder as mine does, and won- 
der how God in His Infinite mercy stays His hand so long. 
However, retribution is sure to come and in an hour when 
they think not. But we are all around them too, and all 
heaven knows and sees what they do and can also read 
their hearts. 

Mr. B." 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 75 



CHAPTER XIII 

For my own satisfaction, (for it may not be of the 
slightest interest to my readers), I insert the following 
message given my husband only three months before he 
passed out of this life. I believe he portrayed the minis- 
ter's life in this little parable. To me it is a prophecy of 
the passing of the minister. 



Jan. 1915. "To my dear son: — You are indeed, 
as has been said of you, in the 'zenith of your power.* I 
rejoice to see this day. I have seen the single drop of 
dew that settled upon the mountain-top, seen it mingle 
with the unseen forces of nature, until it has attracted to 
it the elements of rock and earth and sky; until it has be- 
come a tiny sparkling rivulet that has danced its way 
down the mountainside and leaping off into space un- 
known, has found security and room to move in the deep- 
er broader river and thence into the great expanse of 
ocean, whose great bosom swells and mothers this child 
that has come to her. The world moves in great ships 
upon its surface and feels the freedom and joy of its vast- 
ness. Where now is that tiny drop? Where the dancing 
brooklet, and the majestic river? And has it entered this 
great body only to remain stagnant? Oh, no! It throws 
on high its sweetest essence and from the very clouds is 
distilled the influence which shall drop into human lives 
and souls and there leaven and enliven the forces put 
there by the Great Infinite. 

"Now all these manuscripts you have, you must pre- 
serve, see that no harm shall come to them. They will yet 
go out to the world beside Sweedenborg's works, only on 
a still higher plane, and you do not know what great im- 
portance attaches to the fact that they be preserved. 

"Now my friend, there is yet to come the seed which 
is already growing, that shall be greatly instrumental in 



76 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

giving this truth out to the world. The world today is 
ready, and waiting for it; from the east, west, north and 
south, conies the demand for a purification of even the 
churches of Christ, something more tangible, something 
people can have to look upon, to hear and see that they 
have not in this. So shall this truth spread from pole to 
pole, and through all countries, and among all nations, 
and Christ will come again in all his glory. Amen! 

Mr. B.- 
Ralph Waldo Trine declares: "There is a great law 
in connection with the coming of truth. It is this: When- 
ever a man or woman shuts himself or herself to the en- 
trance of truth on account of intellectual pride, prejudices, 
preconceived opinions, or for whatever reason, there is a 
great law which says that truth in its fulness will come to 
that one from no source, and on the other hand, when a 
man or woman opens himself or herself fully to the en- 
trance of truth from whatever source it may come, there 
is an equally great law which says, that truth will flow in 
to him or her from all sources, from all quarters. Such 
becomes the free man, the free woman, for it is the truth 
that makes us free. The other remains in bondage, for 
truth has had no invitation and will not enter where it is 
not fully and freely welcomed." 
And there you are I 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 77 



CHAPTER XIV 

Mr. Staley preached many sermons on the Father- 
hood of God, and the Brotherhood of Man. It was his 
favorite theme. He wanted men to know that his God 
was a God of love, who cared when His children were 
suffering, when in need of sympathy and help. He want- 
ed them to come to Him. Something had | been said 
about the belief of God as a Force, which of course takes 
away that sweet relationship of Father, as we believe and 
think of God. Mr. Staley then made this remark: "I 
wonder what Mr. B. and the rest of them think about it." 
But nothing was given us for some time. When the 
answer came to a dear friend and myself through Plan- 
chette, it was this: 

FATHERHOOD OF GOD 

'Try for a little while to let go of all you have 
learned to know and love in God as your Heavenly Fath- 
er, and think of Him as simply cold Force or Power, or 
just Impetus that shoots things ahead, season after season. 
What incentive does that give a man to be good and pure 
or care what he does? On the other hand, think of a 
real, loving God, as a Father who loves you, is leading you 
and guiding you, who cares for you and who grieves 
when you go wrong, who has prepared a future home for 
you, when you are thru with mortal life. Which of 
these appeals to your soul? Who wants to go back and 
live another life on the earth which perhaps could be no 
better than the last one had been, when one can go on 
progressing higher and higher, with no more death, no 
more sickness and no more sorrow, which I say, appeals 
to your real self?" 

We were bidden to try the spirits to see if they be 
true or false. At times we were led to believe some 
"floating spirit" might be trying to deceive us, but we had 
very little cause to doubt the source of the communica- 



78 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

tions. They were all of such an high order and so pure 
in text and tone that we knew they could not come from 
an evil source. But when they began to tell us about 
visiting the planets, describing conditions upon Mars, etc., 
we own to feeling sort of nonplused. It seemed unbe- 
lievable at first, just as it seems to you who read about 
it here. But the more we were told, the greater became 
our belief that what was told us was true. What would 
their object be in dragging the heavenly bodies into the 
communications, since they had no end of far more in- 
teresting things to tell us? However we came to believe 
in Mars as being inhabited, and hoped we might be so 
fortunate as to some day enter its portals. By this time 
Mars was no more a mysterious place to us than New 
York or London. So when Mr. J. W. told us he was soon 
to visit Mars, we thought it was a very usual thing for him 
to do, and bade him God speed. His message seems to 
have a prophetic tone when he speaks of giving to God 
through His poor suffering children. The one who gave 
us this message was the father of a very dear friend, who 
exclaimed, "Just imagine my father going to Mars. Isn't 
it strange and wonderful?" Yes to us it is strange and 
wonderful, but no more wonderful than the fact of the 
messages themselves. 



1910. "To my child : — I am soon going to visit Mars. 
You see Mars is far advanced, and annually throws off its 
evil forces because the good dominates and they are 
growing better and better all the time, these Martians as 
you call them. Well, when this force is thrust out, thrown 
off, it goes flying into space and roams around until it 
strikes some other body, when it expresses itself again, 
just as it was before. Then woe unto the unfortunate 
wanderer who happens to come in contact with it. I am 
happy that I am going to see Mars. I shall probably re- 
main there sometime. You see this is a part of our edu- 
cation and we go on and on and that makes eternity. How 
strange this seems to you my child. But do not try to 
solve the problem. You never can, neither can we. 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 79 

"Give my love to the rest, be good to the poor, 
cheer the lonely, comfort the sorrowing and suffering 
ones, and pray for the poor struggling world. Be faith- 
ful, trust and know your God is your defense in every 
time of need. You have much to live for. Stand and cry 
to those who oppress the poor, 'Recompense, turn I com- 
mand you and give to God thru his poor suffering child- 
ren, and receive your reward.' My love is great. Your 
father has spoken. Heed my words. 

J. W." 

Says Emerson — "Foolish people ask you, when you 
have spoken what they do not wish to hear, "How do you 
know it is truth, and not an error of your own?' We 
know truth when we see it, from opinion, as we know 
when we are awake that we are awake." Then quoting 
Swedenborg — "It is no proof of a man's understanding 
to be able to affirm whatever he pleases, but to be able to 
discern that what is true is true, and that what is false is 
false. This is the mark and character of intelligence." 

While Emerson in his essay "The Over Soul" dis- 
courages the very thing this book teaches, I reflect that 
the author wrote his essays many years ago. 

The desire to communicate with friends is shown in 
this wish of J. W. as he tells us how our friends are all 
around us. I have had people tell me with a shiver, "Oh, 
mercy! I don't want my friends to come back. I would 
be scared to death, etc." I cannot understand such an 
attitude, for it is very comforting to me to know my de- 
parted friends are all about me. 



"Give me a little time. Such a chance is not given 
to many. Now while you are sitting quietly together, the 
room is filled with those you have loved and given back 
to God. (Question: Why can we not feel them and 
know they are here). Ans. You would not be able to 
endure it yet. They are all around you. Spirit is real 
and the only real thing in the universe. 

Mr. J. W." 



80 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

MESSAGE GIVEN TO A FRIEND AND MYSELF 

May 12, 1909. "There is to be one i Universal 
Church some day, and it will never be an orthodox 
church. Can you imagine such a church? It will come as 
surely as you are talking to me. Your two lives will nev- 
er be the same again. You are growing in grace and you 
must use your influence for good. I told 'my son' long 
years ago to preach this truth. But he has had to be care- 
ful. You will sow much seed. Oh the joy we feel to see 
you studying these truths. Your lives are becoming more 
and more beautiful. (We remarked that we read our 
Bible with more interest and understanding than ever be- 
fore). Ans. The Bible should be your constant compan- 
ion. You can always get a meal out of it. Some time you 
will understand it better than you do now. Let your 
thoughts dwell upon it more, and worldly matters less. 
Sometime you will be thrown together far away from 
people, where you will have a feast of fat things, and you 
will take a journey together. Ques. Where? Ans. 
Northwest. I do not often prophesy. 

"The present generation will communicate direct 
with us. Contact with this world is a great privilege and 
one but very few have. It is a great purifier and a help 
to more spiritual living. Do you not find it so? 

"Ques. Where is the machinery to work out God*» 
will? 

"Ans. Why my dear sister, in your own hearts. Sec 
that you keep them without sin or blemish. You must 
always take a little time to talk over the message. Some 
things about Mars will be given you next time. 

Mr. B." 

Oh man, — go on with your attempts to communi- 
cate with Mars. Enlarge your telescopes, build your ob- 
servatories higher and higher. Use every device known 
to man to invent a code that will be understood by the 
beings of another planet, if so be there is life upon the 
other planet (?) But forget not this, spirit waves will 
be the vehicle to bear your messages. To man, distance 
is the barrier, but to spirit it is but the span of a breath." 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 81 

"Mars is much in advance of earth and where some 
few of earth dwell." 

Ques. Then some few of earth dwell upon Mars? 

Ans. You could not communicate with Mars other- 
wise. There are some few men, of extraordinary invent- 
ive talents, who have been sent to Mars from earth and 
when they have succeeded in communicating with earth, 
they will pass on higher thru transfiguration. You will 
know all about it some day. You see, Mars is an im- 
mensely advanced world or planet. They have great 
electrical resources and have chained the atmosphere al- 
most to an atom. They have been signalling other plan- 
ets but especially earth for many years. The mirror scheme 
will only help to develop the real instrument. We know 
a great many conclusions but cannot give the process for 
we are not allowed to foretell God's work. 

Ques. Who is talking? 

Ans. No. 

Ques. Why? 

Ans. You are doing now just what you condemn in 
others — not satisfied. So good bye. 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 83 



CHAPTER XV 

Mrs. H. was a friend who had passed on a few years 
before Mr. Staley. She was a woman who was every- 
body's friend. She possessed a fine sense of humor and 
a wit which flashed out with surprising brilliancy. While 
she was not a pious woman, she was a Christian in every 
sense of the word. She began speaking to us first through 
Planchette, then by automatic writing. Her messages 
were always intensely interesting and many of them ex- 
tremely funny, showing she is still true to her nature. 



"Humor, or a sense of humor, is everywhere here. 
I was a different woman after I read science. Christ was 
more to me, and now, just think, I have seen Him and 
talked with Him. The thought is too great. You cannot 
comprehend it, can you? You cannot realize it. That 
Man you read about so much in the Bible! But the half 
was never told of Him. His presence is so sweet to us 
we cannot describe it. We are blessed indeed, so you 
will be. 

Mrs. H." 



Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) took possession of 
the Planchette one day and kept us guessing for some 
time. We asked who was talking, but his reply was, "Oh 
an old man who has not been here very long." This was 
in 1914. He bade us to use caution and protect our- 
selves from intruders while he was talking to us. The 
door of the room was ajar. He told us to "first shut the 
door." We closed it and asked again who he was. The 
answer was, "The old man who made a living by often 
making a fool of himself and other people. I'm happy 
but I wish I had one more whack at the old world. I al- 
ways said if I had a chance to come back and talk to peo- 



84 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

pie, I was going to do it, and now here is my chance and 
I'm going to talk." 

Ques. "Won't you tell us who you are, please?" 
Ans. "The old man in white. Think." 
After much speculation and thinking we guessed his 
name, but were wondering if it could be, since he had 
not been there very long, and his saying he made a fool 
of himself and other people made us think "Clemens" at 
once. Like a flash came, "Yes." 

"You are the most congenial couple I've seen since 
I came here. I am happy. I have my wife and my child- 
ren and am the happiest I have been in thirty years. Keep 
on learning all you can about this place, and that will be 
little enough. I had my troubles and you are having 
yours, but it will all end in glory. 

"The world needs you. I had my turn at it and the 
world is good enough to say it misses me. About the sin- 
cerity of it all? Well, I used to think I had some friends 
but there are many more than I counted on. I never did 
believe much in monopoly. Its time for me to evapor- 
ate — good bye. 

Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)." 



Interjected between the messages from various ones 
were words of encouragement to the minister, from Mr. 
B. This date was 1909. 



"My friend, your opportunity for study is wonder- 
ful. Your privilege has been great. You havei sown 
seed to redeem the world. You will see the saints, my 
friends, but be sure you wear upon your soul the insignia 
of Jesus Christ." 

Advice of this kind always made us feel very small 
and unworthy. 



"Practice the Presence of God, and see how your 
spirit will grow. And now in your hearts pledge your 
freedom and live above the annoyances others bring into 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 85 

your lives. Avoid all anger, no matter what the provo- 
cation. Anger is deadly poison and tends to shorten 
life. You now have the way pointed out to you. You 
can walk in it if you will. 

"Not until you come here will you know the real 
value of these messages. God is an All Prevading Pres- 
ence and heaven is all around you. (There had been a 

great deal of anxiety over the future of L , hence 

this encouragement). L will be very happy. You 

see we read hearts and what is in them, we know. You 
must practice realization, live it, and you will have every 
wish for good fulfilled. Use the forces of life in such a 
way that you will be master of every circumstance and 
condition, as well as environment. Read in the Scriptures 
of Him who knew. If you are vindictive or filled with 
avarice, you cannot receive. You cannot heal." 



The following visit with Mrs. Hall, was with a friend 
and myself. Mr. Staley was not present. 



"Wait until you see this subject an everyday topic. 
It will be as common as a discussion of the flying machine, 
or the last election. There is a great realm opening be- 
fore Mr. Staley, a great world of knowledge. And this 
too, is to come to mankind. You are only a little ahead. 
Do not let things worry you or turn you aside. I wish 
you to become living examples of the art of right living. 
Do not practice self-condemnation so much. (Sometimes 
we had indulged in it frequently). 

"To be sure you are not angels yet, but you are do- 
ing wrong to feel you are of so little importance. You, 
like all others, have your identity with the Great Spirit. 
The ocean, without every drop, is not whole. You will 
come here to dwell among spiritual things, and you must 
live the spiritual life. Then the spirit you cannot now 
see, is awakened, and you see in spirit and behold the 
Glory of God only as you are able to have all your part 
of spirit, which you could not have while you inhabited 



86 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

the body, because you were mortal. You are interesting 
to us, too, because you enter into these conversations with 
such vigor and earnestness. 

"You see we have few avenues thru which to work." 
Ques. "How long does it take the spirit to leave 
the body?" 

Ans. "For three days it simply hovers nigh, then 
goes forth to purification. The earth holds attraction for 
even the human soul, for a time after death of the body. 
It has to gain strength to take its flight. (That is what you 
would call it). No two have exactly the same experi- 
ence. 

Mrs. Hall." 

Mr. Wente was a man beloved and respected by all 
who knew him. He was always a friend in need, and in- 
deed, many a poor boy or girl struggling for an educa- 
tion, without means, was given assistance at the right 
time. His left hand seldom knew what his right hand was 
doing, but his great heart was always athrob for those in 
need, and he never missed a chance to do good when 
good was needed to be done. His going from our midst 
was a great sorrow to the whole community, as well as 
dear friends and neighbors. His was a humble spirit* 
without boast or ostentation. He did what he could. 
You can read his account of his entrance into that other 
life, where even the cup of cold water is given mention. 
His message begins — "To everybody" — so like him. 



"To Everybody: — Oh, of course there will be a lot 
of people who will doubt, but what do you care about 
that? You know it's true and they will know it some 
day. I was just as doubtful as anybody till I came here 
and learned better. You can't blame the world for ignor- 
ance. It's been so a long time and will continue to be so 
a long time. But I wish I had known what I know now. 
I guess I would have done things. Some people praised 
me for some few things I did, but pshaw! I didn't do 
much, but it was something, and I wanted to do more, 
and there is where the best part of it comes in here. If 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 87 

a fellow wants to do a nice thing and can't, he gets just 
as much credit for it here as tho he really did it. But 
when a man can do things and doesn't want to and 
won't, well I would not want to be in his shoes when he 
gets here. I tell you that kind of person man or woman, 
is to be truly pitied. 

"Now, when we get here, we do not all at once be- 
gin to 'talk nice* and lay aside all our personality, but we 
have to grow out of all that. The old way of talking and 
thinking clings to us. Even slang is not entirely unknown 
here for a time. After a while we get away from all those 
things. But what is slang but a perversion of the English 
language? It doesn't hurt anyone. It isn't elegant, that's 
all. 

"Well, I'm seeing my way out now and the cup of 
cold water I gave, helps a whole lot now. I'm learning to 
pray and worship and my soul is growing whiter every 
day. So please think of your old townsman as quite the 
good gentleman. I can see your eyes open when you 
read this. I see Mr. Staley often and I wish you could. 
Well, Ella and all, good bye. Maybe I'll speak again. 

Wm. Wente." 



This message from Mr. Wente is characteristic of 
the man. While receiving this message (by the voice of 
the sender) it seemed as tho I were just sitting face to 
face with him. It was so real that for days I could feel 
the power of his presence, and the tones of his voice re- 
mained with me. Mr. Staley assisted at the burial of this 
good friend, and scarcely more than a month had passed 
when he himself followed. 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 89 



CHAPTER XVI 

Mr. B. often spoke of the minister's magnetic pres- 
ence, his power to hold the attention of his audiences, his 
forceful utterances. As one man expressed it, "When 
Mr. Staley shakes himself and puts that foot of his down, 
its like a shock from a galvanic battery." It is this that 
the leader refers to when he says: 

"Can you understand when you reflect upon it, 
where that tremendous power you exert over your aud- 
ience comes from? You cannot understand it. Is there 
no source away beyond and above your own whence 
cometh this great power? Think you, you alone could 
produce these marvelous demonstrations such as I wit- 
nessed in your church last Sabbath? Ah no, my son. It 
comes to you from the Great Spirit Life around you. It 
it wholly spirit force, and is all around you; indeed it is 
the spirits around you who, through Christ, have led you 
all the way along thus far. Now prepare for more en- 
during work. Rid yourself of every weight; live in the 
atmosphere of spirit'; put in long hours next week. I 
will help you and you shall not be over weary. 

Mr. B." 



The life work of the now successful minister is draw- 
ing to a close. He knows it not, but not far away are 
the heavenly gates, wherein he will enter, but let us not 
anticipate. 



In speaking of the similarity of some of the mes- 
sages Mr. B. said, "There is only so much we can tell you 
and we will all have a hand in it. You cannot know it 
too well. One message you might forget while the many, 
you will remember." In some of the messages Mr. B. re- 
fers to "our friend Mr3. Porter" — Mrs. Porter is a dear 



90 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

friend who lives in Lansing, Michigan, and who is deeply- 
interested in our investigations. 



For some time a dear friend Mrs. W. D. and I had 
together received many beautiful and helpful messages 
through Planchette. By me her sweet council and com- 
panionship had been highly appreciated. One day Mrs. 
W. D.'s father took possession of the Planchette and 
said: 

"You are ideal in your dealings with us. You have 
been chosen to sow the seed. It's a noble work. Some 
things are being wrought upon by scientists who are trying 
to demonstrate along this line in a scientific manner. You 
do not hear about it, but when the right time comes, you 
will be called upon to testify. You desire spiritual knowl- 
edge more than worldly. How often we hear the ques- 
tion, 'Am I to have money?' Always money. You do 
not ask that question, but you will be taken care of. You 
will never want. This has indeed made of you a differ- 
ent person." 

Ques. "In what way?" 

Ans. "You love the things of spirit and live upon 
the Border Line. Think you, this would not help you to 
live a better life? Have self control. When unpleasant 
things happen and you are tempted to yield, smile and 
say one word, 'Christ.' Train the muscles of your face 
to smile instead of scowl. It's just as easy to smile, and 
it will soon become second nature. You know it is my 
great love for you that is speaking to you, do you not? 
Good bye. 

J. W." 

We deemed ourselves especially fortunate, as well 
as honored to be the recipients of so great knowledge 
from the spirit world. Not only people we knew would 
speak to us, but some we had never known, and often 
had never heard of. We never saw Miss Dovel, altho in 
later years her parents were numbered among our dearest 
friends. I have received many communications, when the 
one speaking showed the greatest delight. But scarcely 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 91 

have I heard one who seemed so overflowing with delight 
and ecstacy as did this young girl. 



MESSAGE TO HER MOTHER FROM DOLLY DOVEL 

"Mamma, oh Mamma, I am so glad of this little visit 
with you and papa. I have followed you both around for 
days together and when you have thought of me, I have 
said, 4 I am here, mamma dear, don't you; feel me?' I 
would stand before you, walking backward before you, 
looking you straight in the eyes. When you wept I tried 
to dry your tears. I have more than once perched upon 
papa's knee, but when he felt uneasy he would cross his 
feet the other way and did not say a word. There is no 
use, I cannot make you see me. If you could only live in 
the next century, then you could see me and talk to me. 
But before then we will be together here and it won't mat- 
ter about your seeing me, with your fleshly eyes. When 
you are happy, then I am happy. 

"I have seen Mr. Hall, he is not going to stay where 
Mrs. Hall is for a long time mamma. He wishes now he 
had heeded Mr. Staley's sermons and his good advice. 
I saw Mr. Staley go and put his arms about Mr. Hall and 
then vanish. He was dressed all in white and a great 
diamond like star shone just above his head, and a cres- 
cent hung just above the star. I wish I could describe 
the crescent mamma, but I can't. It was a light and kept 
giving off pure sparks of bright white light. And each 
one of the sparks took wings and sailed away, and I saw- 
that they were angel doves. I do not know even what 
it meant. Only this I know, when one has done a lot of 
good in the world, one is given symbols like this, that 
follow wherever one goes, so all Heaven knows that one 
was good on earth. Mr. Hall was so dazed he fell right 
down before Mr. Staley. He knew him, but a perfect 
wonder was upon his face. You must see Mrs. Staley 
sometimes. She gets very lonely, (but my! what a house 
she will have here.) 

"I am teaching, mamma. Does that seem strange 



92 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

to you? Well, I have a class of little children. There 
is no such thing as sex here. They ate all just sweetj 
little cherubs. They could learn all by themselves, but 
anyone who loves children can work among them, and 
1 love children. I shall always remain young. I am sure 
papa will be glad of that. 

"You see I am going to be one to meet you when 
you come here and you will know me, for I look just the 
same, only beautiful, oh so beautiful. You do not grow 
old and homely in Heaven. Mr. Staley looks so glorious. 
I do wish you could see him. He is so tender and gentle 
and tries so hard to be like Christ. Now I must sftop 
dear ones. Keep the door open so I can stay close up to 
you. The more you believe, the closer I can get to you. 
There, as you read this I'm just hugging and kissing you 
both. 

Your Dolly." 

Since receiving this message, I always think of my 
husband as Dolly Dovel has described him. 

I have no son, but I fancy if I had a wayward son or 
daughter, this message would bring to me the greatest 
comfort and hope. 

To a mother With Two Wayward Sons: 

"You have become greatly discouraged about 
your sons, but the germ was planted by God. Think you 
it can die so easily? No, dear ones, trust Him. You 
do not if you doubt the promises he has made you. You 
wonder why the reality is not more real. You do not 
understand why, after all your prayers and pleadings, you 
seem so far from what you hoped for. My dear ones, 
do you ever consider the necessity of the flight of time, 
before the harvest can come? Can you place the grain of 
wheat in the ground in autumn and expect it to become fit 
for the harvest before the harvest time? No, ah no! 
The deep snows of winter must cover it for long months. 
The ice and frost of winter must hold it in their grasp 
for long dreary waiting weeks and months ere you can 
see the blade and bud appear, and this must come before 
the full grain. You believe the grain is there, for you 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 93 

know you sowed it in sowing time. You do not worry 
for you know the snow must come sifting down upon the 
field. You know this is necessary to growth. You say 
"Yes it is best so" — and you are happy and you trust. 
You cannot see the little green spikes for they are covered 
with snow, but you somehow know they are there, and 
trust and wait, and do not murmur. Now, my loved 
ones, you have sown the seed, why not, why can you not 
trust God, and wait. You must know it is there, the ice 
and snow of disregard and passive neglect seem to cover 
it out of sight, but the harvest time will come and all will 
come and all will be well. Don't try to do God's work 
and your own too. 

M. R. 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 95 



CHAPTER XVII 

I never saw Mr. C — and had never heard of him, 
till these messages came to his friend Mr. Briggs, 'who 
says they are chasacteristic and just as he would express 
himself. This is one case which proves the statement of 
Mr. Wente, that slang is not entirely unknown for a 
time. 



To Mr. Briggs, former Mayor of N. Muskegon, Michigan. 

"Well Mart, I am going to speak pretty fast, so keep 
your eyes open. When I first awoke here I felt like a 
man who had taken opiates and I wondered why they did 
not give me something to strengthen me. But just then 
I felt a sensation of falling and I lit on a bunch of feathers, 
so to speak. I then saw my body and I saw that I had 
left it and I tried to get back into it. But it gradually 
faded away and I was in darkness. 

T was neither man nor spirit, for I had no feeling. 
But there I was and I felt like a drop suspended in mid- 
air. And then I began to be afraid, for all at once my 
whole life began to move before me and while I saw my 
childhood, I seemed happy. But I knew what was com- 
ing and was more afraid. And it all passed before me, 
while I waited in the darkness. Then I heard a voice 
saying, 'Are you proud of it? Are you fit to enter the 
presence of the Almighty God and His Angels?' And 
I sank down and lay there powerless. 

"Then I saw my body again and it rebuked me, as 
I saw how I had marred it and abused it. Then I heard 
a wailing that made me so afraid. It was like the wailing 
of lost souls. I said 'My God, am I to join tfc^ati crowd?* 
and I knew their time to repent would be long and I cried 
and said, 'Is it too late? Is there nothing I can do? 
I am ashamed and sorry, oh my God forgive me,' I cried. 
!n spirit is worse than in flesh, Mart, and all this time the 



96 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

darkness grew more and more dark until I felt the whole 
of me was crushed. 

"Then I heard the sweetest voice I ever heard 
and it said; "God forgives, you are forgiven. Come 
with me.' Then the darkness gave way and it grew 
gray and then light seemed to flood me and I made an 
effort to follow the voice, but I could not. I called aloud. 
1 saw nor heard anything until, had I been on earth, I 
would have gone insane from the thought that I must stay 
in this condition thru Eternity. 

"But Mart, let me tell you, I was in hell, sure as you 
live, and I know it. But some sense told me I had a 
chance and I dwelt upon that thought until it began to 
come true and if ever a man begged, it was I. Then the 
voice said. "What have you done to save a soul? 
What did you ever do for your own soul? This experi- 
ence is simply the result of your neglect. No one is to 
blame but yourself. You had a better chance on earth 
but you chose to live in ignorance and let God mostly 
alone. 

"So Mart, come over with the goods. It's in you 
and I must do something, or we both go bad. I am now 
in earnest as never in my life. Well, then I felt a touch 
upon my hand and an arm steal about me, and I just lay 
down and that was my giving up Mart. Then I was 
lifted up and borne away from all the darkness and I felt 
such a peace and joy. But remorse is still eating me 
Mart, and will for some time. But I'm getting out of that 
Hell, and may you be good enough to yourself to keep 
out of it. 

"I see you are tired. I can finish another time. 
Well, Mart, the old world is a pretty good one, but you 
ought to see this. I am with people of my kind, all work- 
ing to get higher. I am busy every minute and as I gain 
a little, the sights are opened up to me. And the music 
here Mart, is beyond me to describe. I will help you all 
I can and will try to influence men to help you. Don't 
worry and fret, for that makes matters worse. F 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 97 

misses me and I feel sorry, she worries so. Now Good 
bye, 

1918. JohnC." 
No. 2 from Mr. C. "Well, I am back and glad to 
get your ear once more. You must be interested in this, 
for you are my only hope Mart. Until I see you have 
hold, good and tight, I shall keep pegging away at you. 
And I want you to know this, that I am at your side, day 
and night, and I shall stay there. You will feel me. I 
have promised God to get you Mart, and get you I will. 
You need me and I need you. This winter will seem very 
long to you, but brace up, for I am looking after you. 

Johnnie C." 

No. 3. 1918 "Here I come again, my friend, I 
have watched and waited, and now we will go to it, a 
friendly chat. You are the only one Mart that I can 
reach at all. I wish I had had a better start here. THIS 
is LIFE, sure as you live. I was never more surprised in 
my life than at conditions here. Why Mart, the whole 
bunch is all over Christendom and they know all a fellow 
does, sure as you live. There is no use beating around 
the bush Mart. If I can do anything for you to help you 
to escape the shame and remorse I have experienced in 
the short while I have been here, you better believe I am 
going to do it. Now you just take hold of things and 
make your old friend happy. I have a dear family here. 
So have you, and that's a binder. Good bye. 

John C." 

No. 4. 1918 "I have been wishing for you Mart, 
every day. I follow you around and want to make 
myself known, but I do not succeed very well. I have 
a better place than I did have. I have my work to do 
now. I am getting a pretty good foundation under my 

home and some people from M would do well to have 

as good prospects as I have. It's taken hard work, but 
I'm getting there, I have plenty of company, for there 
are millions no better off than I am. Don't drive me 
away Mart. When this side shows you up to yourself 
you feel mighty cheap. John C." 



98 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

No. 5. 1918 "Well old boy, I have kept my pro- 
mise to come again. I am after you and I do not propose 
to have you go thru with what I have. I know I went the 
limit but I am now paying the fiddler. But my soul gets 
whiter every day Thank God. Just such acts as these 
are helping me up the ladder. Now you are my special 
charge; we all have one, and they are ours to get at. 
Your mind is upon material things. That is natural 
Mart, but I have a few sugegstions to make. Let me tell 
you how to get what you want, then you try out the scheme 
and see how things will come your way. First stop 
your wholesale doubting. Then change your thinking. 
Change your present way of living. I will help you. 

God bye. John C." 



The author of the following message was not quite 
what she seemed to see herself to be at the time of the 
writing. I did not know her well, but I had heard of her 
many kind acts. It shows how spirit life makes them 
wish they had done more. 



"My dear friends: I am only a woman with a 
woman's desires. You think your world is beautiful. 
But oh this world is so beautiful. I am happy here. I 
wish you could see the people who were purse-proud. 
They are but a period upon the page. I wish you could 
see the homes here. I wish you could see the homes 
you are rearing here. They still have some open spaces, 
but they will be filled in in time as the years go by.*' 
Ques. "Will you tell us your name?" 
Ans. "I will tell you in a moment. I do not a- 
mount to much here yet. I feel that way in my own 
estimation, While on earth I was considered at the 'Top 
of society! I spent money like water, dressed like a pea- 
cock and hung on to my pocket book. I thought if I 
gave a poor soul a dollar I was honoring God, and should 
have a deep notch cut in my walking stick. How I hated 
it, that stick, yet I was dependent upon it. I could not 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 99 

get along without it. I hated many things, besides, to 
pay for which I am now writhing in remorse. Every day 
I see what became of that wealth that tried to burn up 
my soul. Well, we will drop it there. 

"What I left undone, without a thought, I am now 
trying to do, and I call upon you to help me. You are 
so very different from the women I knew.** 

Ques. "What did you think of us?" 

Ans. "Just as I did of everybody else. I wish I 
had known Mr. Staley as I know him now, and done some- 
thing substantial for him. Too late now." 

Mrs. " 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 101 



CHAPTER XVIII 

The Burns poem was given in the early days of our 
investigation. Mr. Burns had been giving us some little 
frivolous talks that did not seem worth recording, and 
we were laughing at them, when Mr. Staley said, *'I wond- 
er if this is really Bobby Burns or some one who is trying 
to fool us.'* 

Suddenly the words began to be spelled that com- 
pose this poem. We immediately began to write them 
down. Burns would write a verse, then make some re- 
mark about it. Once I remember he said, * 'Shall I gie 
ye mair?" 

After the third verse he finished it without further 
comment. Burns always seemed to be afraid of impos- 
ing himself upon us. He always came with an apology 
for doing so. 

VERSES 
HYPOCRITES 1890 

Wanderin' up an* doon this warl', 
Meetin' this an* that, 
Some sae false, an* some sae true, 
Wakin' Mem'ries shut. 

Turnin* wi' a heart sae sad, 
Longin* for a friend, 
Lest alone an' dreary 
Life for me should end. 

Eyes so seemin' truly, 
Opened up to mine 
Honesty wi* goodness 
Seemin* there to shine. 



102 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

By the hand you tak' him, 
Confidence inspire. 
When i* a wink I find him 
To be the king o* liars. 

Questionin* my senses 
If all the wide warl' thro* 
We'll find anither scoundrel 
Wi* virtues far an* few. 

We'll ye may keep a lookin' 
Marchin* up an* doon, 
Under every nooket, 
Sic as he is foun*. 

Smilin' i' yer faces, 
Prayin* for yer soul. 
Callin* up the graces 
To come an* save ye* whole. 

When yer turnin* frae him 
T* follow his advice, 
Springin' quick upon ye, 
He stabs ye in a trice. 

Gie me the gude auld Ruffy 

Wha' in his ru'fness sits, 

An' God deliver Bobby 

Fra* smooth tongued hypocrites. 

Robert Burns. 



Another of our old friends takes a trip to Mars. We 
never heard any report of her journey, and as we never 
received anything we looked upon as authentic coming 
from any inhabitant on Mars, we never expected to hear 
more from Mrs. H. 



"I sometimes whistled, I sometimes wrote, 
But more often floated in my little boat.** 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 103 

Ques. "Who are you?" 

Oh" you know. I just wanted to hear you 
laugh. You are certainly in sympathy with us here. We 
are happy, always happy. Today I am here with you. 
Tomorrow 1 go to Mars." 

Ques. "How long does it take to go to Mars?" 

Ans. "Just as long as it takes you to think your- 
self there. 

They do not calls it Mars, they call it Ray. The 
beautiful Ray. The people are more advanced. 

Ques. "Are they better than we are?" 

Ans. "They sow and reap. 

Mrs. H." 



A few lines from Miss Alcott, treasured from the 
mass of written messages of long ago. 

"Never despair. Love is a wonderful thing. Soon- 
est to wound, first to bleed, to sink under the weight of 
neglect. Thus, the hearts of men and women are tried. 
Then the shade grows deep and dark as night lets her 
curtain down. The traveler on life's way goes wearily 
on and meekly sets his face toward the setting sun. And 
then, as life draws near its close, its heaven opens wide, 
and in peace the tired soul, bereft of earthly love, finds 
rest at last. 

Louise M. Alcott. 

We never felt that Miss Alcott's message was finish- 
ed. There was an interruption and she never resumed, 
as was often the case. But we kept these few lines. 



PITY THE POOR DOUBTER 

'*Tell those who are privileged and yet who are 
afraid to speak, that some day they will see how they 
turned their backs upon Christ's teaching that God or- 
dained to save men's souls, and their sorrow and shame 
will know no bounds. Such is the fate of the cowardly 
soul. You are proud you say to confess Christ. Yes, 



104 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

you are, but ashamed to confess this truth, the greatest 
of all His teachings. Think. 

"Never think you are alone. You are never alone, 
all around you in every nook and corner, are angel forms, 
watching over you. Oh, if I only had words to tell it as 
it is. Whenever you have a good thought, it is inspired 
by these angels. But when you have an evil thought, 
that is the human, the animal side. 

"When you are sad, it is wrong and a self pity, which 
should not be. It's a sort of remorse too. Remorse is 
hell and all the hell there is, and it scorches and burns 
worse than any fire. 

"It is a terrible thing to meet one we have wronged. 
One of the worst sufferers is a man who has betrayed 
and ruined young girls and caused young men and boys 
to go astray or caused their misuse in any way. There is 
no peace anywhere for such as these. God forgives them 
but they are obliged to look upon the wrecks of lives and 
know they are responsible for it all, and their sufferings 
are horrible. So also when a murderer meets his victim. 
He tries to shun him, but no use. They walk and walk 
side by side, the murderer is ever reminded of the hor- 
rible thing he did, and how he broke the cord God wove 
for a useful life." 



EXTRACTS FROM MESSAGES 

1 . "All have the privilege of progression, but aeons 
of time must elapse ere the wicked ones can rise out of 
their distresses. But Eternity is before them, and God 
is always merciful." 

2. In that world they grieve over us, but not as 
we grieve, but as God grieves over some wayward child. ) 

3. "You are in a great enclosure and with you are 
ravening beasts of prey; Hate, Lust, Greed, Pride and 
Selfishness. There is but one way out, but you can get 
away from it all if you will. At this gateway stands a 
host of purified ones WAITING to help you thru. You 
do not see them but they are there." 

4. "You are each given an armor by God and 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 105 

an armor by man, and nearly all wear the man-made 
armor, so these beasts have no trouble gnawing their 
way through to men's hearts." 

5. "You do not understand how life here is made 
up of the good in human souls. How all Heaven re- 
joices when we see one like you, trying to save some 
one. Immediately we fly to your assistance and you 
are taken into the inner circle of helpers, and your name 
recorded there. You can never go back, but progress 
into the perfect day, as one of God's chosen." 

6. (Mrs. H. told of meeting some of the great 
ones of earth. Some of the presidents, and laughingly 
added the name of Betsy Ross who made the flag.) 

7. (They tell us how every good act of kindness 
adds beauty to our homes there.) "The nucleus of a 
home there is a pure life here. Around this everything 
else is built." 

8. "We have no golden streets and jasper walls 
here, but spirit substances alone make up the material 
from which all things are made. This, no man can under- 
stand. It is too far beyond and above anything man 
can comprehend." 

9. "When we commune one with another, the 
thought or wish to commune with one, brings the one 
wished for, and we sense the presence and instantly enter 
into conversation of spirit to spirit. After the spirit 
leaves the body, we seem to be still on earth until we see 
our bodies and each says, 'Yes, I know I'm dead for 
there lies my body.' and often we try to reenter our 
bodies; we feel very much alive. Then the transition 
from mortal to spirit life takes place after three days. 
We then realize that we no longer live on earth, but must 
make haste to unknown realms beyond." 

10 "Sometimes evil spirits come to men, urging 
them to evil deeds. They are most tantalizing in their 
operations, saying over and over, 'Do it, go on, go on, 
do it, 'etc. On and on until one yields then how pleased 
the spirits are. Some unrepentant murderer here urges 
an innocent man to commit murder. Evil spirits have no 
power to do evil here, but they can do so there. 



106 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

Good promptings come from good spirits. Every 
good act is prompted by some sweet, generous spirit 
behind the veil and the yeilding to such, helps build our 
heavenly home and makes it more beautiful and pure." 

1 I. "The love we have for our loved ones is in- 
tensified here and we go right on loving. Love never 
dies." 



Mr. Staley's paternal grandfather had been a Bap- 
tist clergyman. We received many useful messages from 
him, in the early days of his grandson's conversion and 
ministry. Later he seemed to step aside for a greater 
mind to lead, but frequently appeared to give some gentle 
word, enough so that his boy knew that he was near 
and was still interested. 

1894. "Finish well all you begin. Try at all 
times to do to others as you would have them do unto 
you. Let every day be fruitful of some good. Useful 
lives are the flowers of Heaven. Make those who know 
you, long for and seek your society. Shun not one 
single duty. Work for the advancement of God's King- 
dom. Weary not in well doing. 

"Dear and yet dearer, near and yet nearer will 
your hearts grow to each other. Many will be the 
wonderiing thats that will fill your brain. Just say 
'Dear Christ, Thy will be done.' There is much good 
awaiting you. 

Signed — Grandfather Staley" 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 107 



CHAPTER XIX 

Of this weird — shall I call it allegory? — I have 
little to say. I cannot just place Simeon in sacreB lore, 
but he says he is there, and it is fair to presume he was 
telling the truth. His fearsome experience is a facin- 
ating tale to say the least, and is told in that old time 
form of speaking, common in his time. It is only one of 
many of a similar nature. 



POWER OF THOUGHT 

"I am one who died by fire, and felt the sword. 
You were made after me. You seek my name in musty 
pages. Pity for me fills your heart. I gave my life 
for Christ, can you not do as much? I fled the enemy 
from place to place, and slept in cave and hollow. I 
starved, and many times came so near to death that 
birds slept in my cowl, for life was almost gone, when 
there came to me a shepherd who heard my moans, and 
turning a rock, beheld my distress. Poor, himself, but 
he gave me of water and food to the seam of his sack. 
Then, hungry and thirsty himself hastened his way, and 
not until sunset of two days did he return and brought 
me assistance. 

"At one time, it was just at daybreak of the second 
day, I thot I dreamed, but it was a reality. I felt a 
chill, and then along my arm crept a form. I was not 
afraid, but my eyes, hot and feverish, swelled with mak- 
ing protest, fell upon the glistening head of a serpent. 
And then, charmed, I fastened my thought upon him, and 
as I did so, he shrank until his skin was wrinkled and the 
serpent formerly five measures, shrunk to one. Then I 
told him to depart. His fangs were fastened in my robe, 
but I demanded that he release me, and like the lump 



108 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

of clay whereon he lay, he rolled down the cliff and dis- 
appeared to his death. 

Upon his return, I bade the shepherd and his men 
to seek the carcass for proof to them, But he said, 
'Wherefore? I see his trail and need no better proof, 
and in your hood I see the print of fangs.' and lo, I had 
not felt it. I had also hoped for sandals, as my feet 
were sore to bleeding, and from his sack the shepherd 
took sandals and bathing my feet, placed them thereon. 
He saw my smile, but wist not that I had asked for them. 

I had spent so many years in forest and wilderness, 
without protection, I came to know my powers, and 
used them as I have told you, in every case thereafter. 

I had a friend some miles distant. For fear, I 
would not speak his name. But starting on our journey, 
the shepherd said, 'Beyond yon mountain, lives one 
fairly disposed to strangers in distress. I will help you on 
there, and you will be made comfortable, until you are 
able to go upon your way.' My thought flashed to be- 
ing a burden upon my friend, the host. I sank to prayer, 
when instantly the shepherd said to one of his men. 
'Make fast a fat lamb, and leave it with the stranger for 
payment of his stay.' I found the host to be my friend, 
and in need of food. 

And so on and on I might lead you. But I have 
told you enough to show you the Power of Thought, and 
even in the least of things, the Father hears and gives. 
Simeon a tent maker of olden times." 



A poet of great fame surprised us one evening in 
1896 by giving a message clairaudiently to us. His 
simple language did not at all correspond with his com- 
plex way of putting things in his writings. However he 
gave his name and we believed it was he. 



VOICES 

1 896 "Your longing shall be satisfied. This world 
must give to yours, or it is beggered indeed. We must 
minister, or you must want. The great demand upon us 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 109 

means self-sacrifice on your part. For in self-sacrifice 
alone can you see good in any form whatsoever. 

The great white time, the Easter tide is near. The 
time when angels, all in white, keep company with Him 
who died for mortals. Tis all we see of God, the 
Father. All, I say, except what we perceive. This 
faculty of perception is so largely developed in Spirit 
life, that we can feel with your human sense, but our 
sight is knowledge, and we see not as you see with your 
fleshly eyes. But Christ, Him we can see face to face, 
but not for long. There are great preparations being 
made in the old English Church, over there, to celebrate 
this event of all time, the Resurrection. With sermon 
and song and prayer they will commemorate that great 
event, than which to, or of, or for the earth, there is no 
greater. And because it is to earth so dear, so to Heav- 
en more dear. And the church to me was not what it 
should have been to me. But God, the Incarnate, the All 
to me, was deeply rooted in my heart, in spite of me. 
And so I lived after all for Him, in spite of me. 

''Mysteries are like explosives, uncanny and hardly 
safe to handle carelessly. To open and view unheard of 
things, surprises men. And immediately doubts keep him 
company. So many are the mysteries, that, welcome 
visiters tho they be, you wish they would depart, (to 
come some other day). Doubts are safe things to have, 
you say, for manly men must have opinions of their own, 
and every man has a right to his opinions. The word 
'man is a big word, and it is a duty one owes to ones* 
self to maintain his personality, and to be master of him- 
self. (?) He says, 'I am a man and should not cater to 
every wind of doctrine,' But fate sometimes plays you 
tricks. I call it God. But you cannot see, because you 
are stone blind. Well, my friend, there is a close tie 
between you and me, and I come boldly to speak truths 
to you. Let me speak a moment upon the rise and de- 
cline of the human race, as a necessary adjunct of pro- 
gress. 

"(You have nothing in common with those men who 
today typify the race at the time when the animal and the 



110 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

human were one.) It has taken the centuries to bring 
men to the status you see among them. They are still 
savages, thirsting for one another's blood. How large 
a percentage do yau suppose are thirsting for one an- 
other's soul? Men must rise to this, ere they can lay 
claim to real manhood. 

"I need not repeat histoiy to show you the waver- 
ing course of man from away back there in the animal 
stage to the present. Those centuries of barbarism and 
ignorance and blood thirstiness have each had its re- 
fining process, and today you see a much finer product, 
all the effect of progression, a necessary process. 

4 'I do not mean to use sarcasm as I tell you these 
things, but could you my friend, stand where I stand and 
could you see what I see, you would say with me, 'Ah no, 
the human race is not yet civilized. So long as men hold 
to selfishness, greed, hatred and blood thirstiness, they 
cannot call themselves a civilized race.' 

"Well, not all things, and not all accounts of things 
have been preserved. But the most important have here 
and there dropped off enough of their treasures, and 
this enables generations to come, to preserve some record. 
These fragments are preserved as the centuries pass on. 
In some there are facts enough to reach a conclusion. 
But each generation forms great opinions of itself, and 
its importance to the world. 

"There are millions of generations totally extinct 
to literature and no record left of any act of theirs. 
There are other generations a record of which lies buried 
deep in the bosom of old earth, and future generations 
will uncover them and find great treasures there. 

"Do not think my friend that the sacred scriptures 
always mean material things when they prophesy the 
future of the earth. For instance this — 'The fire shall 
consume the earth.* Just study the signs of the times, 
my friend. Those fires will never be literal fires, such 
a? you confine in your stoves or your furnace. Ah no. 
That fire will consume the earth is true but it will be a 
refining fire. Watch. It is surely coming. First there 
will be the quenching of the fire of thirst, that is consum- 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 111 

ing men's bodies. Then ^shall tome brotherly love. 
Then Heaven will open to men and they will see and 
know what may be theirs, if they become worthy. 

"In the early part of the coming century this truth 
will begin to be known, as never before. And ere that 
century shall end, all who will, may communicate openly 
with their loved ones here. And when the millennium 
shall come, these refining fires shall have done their work 
for there shall be no impurities. 

"Earth must produce more and more each century. 
This closing century has been the richest of them all. 
Then should not the next be still richer? The posses- 
sions of the present century will be winnowed, and sifted 
so at the close of the twentieth century there will remain 
but the pure gold. Nation after nation will disappear 
from the face of the earth, until there will remain but one 
great nation. This must be, or God's plan would be a 
failure. 

"From this somewhat vague communication, 
select what you can, friend of mine. There is a world 
of truth in it all. 

"Now we here are constantly unfolding to the mind 
of man, helpful knowledge, in order to the more intelli- 
gently manipulate the business of life. It seems mys- 
terious and wonderful enough to man, yet it is the be- 
ginning just now of a great Reform. And discoveries 
are yet to come when the time demands them, which shall 
startle the world, as nothing has ever done before. 

"I will tell you a little about one of these discoveries. 
There is to be developed a process whereby forces shall 
be brought together (by forces I mean certain elements in 
atmosphere ether blended with an opposite element 
contained in the human body), which will enable a per- 
son sitting or standing in one part of the globe to speak 
face to face with a person in some other country. Dis- 
tance will be done away with, obstacles cannot interfere 
with sight. You will sit in your own home and see what 
your friend far away is doing. 

"By the same process, only by a finer development 
of the mechanism, will man be able to see the spirit forms 



112 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

around him. I see you are both charmed and alarmed. 
Doubts? Well, I see you are willing to aid me in this 
truth and will co-operate with me by letting your mind 
develope what I have said. There are other friends 
waiting to communicate with you. I promise some help- 
ful words at an early day. I am well pleased with what 
you have done. Work on. 

r. Br 

THE HUMOR OF ROB ROY. 

"Well, you wished for somebody and I am here. 
I am Rob Roy. Ques. "Where did you live?" Ans. 
"In old Scotland and I was a warrior bold. (Talked of 
Sir Frances Drake.) There is much to tell. If the high 
seas could talk and tell their tale they would tell some 
queer things. There is enough wealth at the bottom of 
the oceans to run the world for centuries. I laugh 
to think of the scramble if the blamed old sea should go 
dry." 

Ques. "What were you fighting for?" 
Ans. "Oh I was out for a reward, one way or 
another. Good bye." 



Our curiosity was aroused regarding Rob Roy, and in 
looking up his record, we found he was indeed out for a 
reward as there was a price upon his head, so we con- 
cluded Rob Roy could see the humor in such a statement. 



A dear old mother in Isreal gave us this information 
about "Shall We Know Each Other There." 

The forms of spirits cannot be truly described. 
There is no way of describing them to mortals. One 
has to sense it. Some descriptions have been given you, 
that you might know at least in part. They are like and 
yet unlike the physical body. We here, still think of the 
physical body and thus form a picture of it as we knew it 
upon the earth, and yet are not the same. The great 
Master told us all we could ever know about it until we 
came here. However, you may trust in the promise that 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 113 

you will know your friends and they will know you, and 
you will be united with those you truly love and who love 
you. Let this suffice. Esther B." 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 115 



CHAPTER XX 

The following are a few messages from different 
ones, some known and some unknown. 

"My friends, you are good enough to wish for 
me. I felt your vibrations and have responded. I have 
a few instructions for you. To be able to move the things 
of the universe, you must know how to use your power. 
It is not easy to a novice and you will not be able to do 
it at once. You must sit in silence, at eventide, twilight 
is best, when the shadows are dropping to sleep, and train 
your soul to think of God. Not Principle, not Force, but 
the Eternal Father who stands by your side, handing you 
just what you wish for. 

"Then train your soul to see yourself, taking that 
which He gives you. Train your soul to be thankful that 
it has been given to you. Then lie back in your Father's 
arms, look up into His face and rest, and trust and know. 
In this way only, can you wholly please God. I will now 
depart and watch for your obedience. You will thus 
deserve to know more. You must learn to obey. Harriet 
has told you so. It is lovely here, and you will be glad 
when the chase of life is over. Adieu. 

Cousin Harriet." 

"To Miss W. Yes, I am a staunch friend to this 
truth. The certainty of spirit communication. It is 
worth your investigation, for it is soon to be universally 
believed. Science is fast opening the door and all who 
doubt now will then believe." 

To a friend and myself after we had been discussing 
the manner in which they gave us messages. 

"Tell them we are standing by, only waiting for them 
to recognize our presence and power. We teach the 
brain, then the muscle, then the mind carries the mes- 
sages. You would be surprised to know the power that 
is stored up in your body. The human body is a great 



116 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

dynamo, capable of the finest productions The time is 
coming when you will know your power and be able 
to use it. 

Ques. "Some people declared Christ received 
his knowledge from the Hindus. Is this true? 

Ans. "Oh no, they received theirs from Him. 
Because He always existed and received all Power and 
Knowledge from His Father, God. He was God, all 
that will ever manifest as God, in or out of the flesh. There 
are some who would like to place this great manifestation 
on a level with mortals. It's their belief, do not condemn 
them. But that, my friends, can never be. Ye are Gods. 
You are not the divine, but you are part of the Divine.' * 

Mr. B. 
MARS AGAIN 

"Mars is all stired up over the communication of 
Earth. Mars gets our quakes thru wireless. No man 
can declare the whole truth. The waves come from electric 
contact in ether. Ether is boundless and limitless. It 
is everywhere. Its track covers the distance between 
the earth and all planets, and time and space are nothing. 
Ether being life giving, is nearest to God. It is omni- 
present. Ether is just becoming understood by man. 
And yet he knows practically nothing at all about it. 
Why, when man learns to chain ether as he does electrici- 
ty, the wonders he will perform will make electricity" 
seem like a baby's untaught brain in comparison. 

"Spirit is locked up in Ether. Spirit is Ether and 
Ether is Spirit. Once given the key, man will let loose the 
secrets of the universe and open the door of the Spiritual 
Kingdom. Then death will lose its horror. Then God's 
kingdom will have come, and His will done upon 
earth. Man must bow his head in the presence of such 
great Truth. The people of Mars have a spirit same as 
we. They have to work much harder than earth people. 
It's harder to keep alive. They have much less time for 
trivial things. Mars has little moisture from the fact 
that the planet is mostly land. The lines you see, from 
earth, are deep and wide channels for holding water* 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 117 

Work on these never ceases. They dry out quickly. 
They are signalling all the time now and every one on 
Mars works, and all have equal property. They have 
homes as earth people do. They are interested in the 
planet Earth. (Much more was told us about Mars that 
I have no record of.) 

Mr. B. 

"The question was asked. 'Why are not prayer meet- 
ings better attended ?' 

Ans. "Because they do not satisfy. Men's minds 
are turning to this greater Truth. Men in the next gener- 
ation will invent a little electrical machine with records 
which will record thought. Inventors now have the 
principle, but do not know it." 

"When you get here and see what a delight it is just 
to live, you will not wish for earth, at all with all its dirt 
and filth, both physical and mental. And yet no one goes 
far afield. That is, worlds are one, and heaven is all 
around. This life is a busy life and those who wish for 
idleness would better not come here. Every one works. 
You will be busy enough here. 

Ques. "Do what we like to do?" 

Ans. "Yes, it is life to be able to do the things one 
loves to do. It is a source of great amusement to us to see 
the surprise of some who come here. All kinds of peo- 
ple. Some are very tiresome. But remember, the trees 
have not two leaves alike. 

"Unity in spirit is unity of purpose. You two can 
do little apart, (Mrs. B. and Mrs. Staley). You will 
grow closer in friendship, as the years go by. Your 
works will be manifest in the development of your family 
and your friends. When you are able to overcome, 
which you will be, you will become a writer of the ex- 
periences which you have had. When the shadows fall 
and you are in the quiet of life, you will do this with all 
earnestness. ,, 

(This prophecy has come true. The shadows have 
fallen and truly the quiet time of life has come for me, 
and I am writing these pages.) 



118 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

"Heaven is a state of being, not a corner. 

"You know Mr. W. thot the best must be his, but 
here he took a very low station from which to learn sub- 
mission. A very hard thing for him to do. He sees 
those who seemed to be his inferiors on earth, those low 
and poor ones to whom to speak was a bending from his 
high station, and meant only a passing thought. Now he 
stands with bowed head as they pass by, and loves their 
slightest attention, and longs to be like them. And this 
very longing is making him better. But he cannot under- 
stand it yet. He wanted the best there, and he wants 
the best here, so he must grow spiritual. But even in 
that growth with such a motive, he must grow in wrong- 
ness to a degree. Untill he grows in the garden of Re- 
pentance, he will be selfish still and cannot enter into 
Holy Things. Thus you have a true picture of the man 
you once knew. I found him in despair and brought 
him to you, and you should have seen his surprise at such 
an opportunity, for he has not been permitted much. 

Mrs. H. 

The three following messages, given clairaudiently, 
were most satisfactory and convincing. 

M. E. B's Description of Her Passing 1894. "When 
I was taken out of the world I just passed through a great 
fold of some kind of drapery as it seemed to me. As I 
passed beneath it, it seemed to drag across my face and 
felt very heavy. It gradually grew lighter and softer 
like down. My eyes had before seemed shut so tight, but 
my eyelids began to loosen as the covering became lighter 
and I felt someone holding my hand. I was sure that it 
was you, but I somehow felt that you were sorry that I 
was happy and you were not there. I spoke to you but 
I did not think you quite heard me; and when you thought 
I had gone away from you forever, I could hear every 
word you said. 

"Well, I soon began to hear sweet music. Then I 
thought, why had I never heard it before? And I 
wondered if you heard it too. As I lay half wondering, 
someone called my name. I thought it was you, but the 
music stole my attention, and I tried to listen. I felt no 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 119 

pain, but such a sweet peace stole over me. My hands 
seemed to close and unclose, and I grasped something 
and felt something very tender closing over my hand. 
Then I heard a voice I had never heard before, which 
sounded like the melting tones of a harp crossed and re- 
crossed by its own music. Then I rose upon my feet and 
said, 'Yes' in response to a voice which said 'Are you 
willing?' Then He knew I was willing for I saw that I 
was with my savior, and the scene that met my gaze I can 
never describe. 

"Then we lingered for a few moments when sudden- 
ly I found He was gone, but had left behind Him such a 
radiance of glory that I could scarcely bear the sight, and 
all around me was a company of angels singing and this 
was the music I had heard. 

"There were loved ones wishing to greet; me and 
from one to the other I hastened and they walked with 
me to the edge of a beautiful stream and told me to listen. 
I did so and then I heard you all weeping and for three 
days — your days — I was permitted to stay and comfort 
you." 

E. H. B. to Her Son. 1894. "I was once alone in 
my house. The beauty was thrilling me with unspeakable 
power when I saw the glittering draperies of an archway 
lifted, but before I beheld it, I knew by the feeling of 
humility, who was there, and I scarcely dared to lift my 
eyes. But I heard a voice say, 'Daughter, welcome me to 
your home, as I welcome you to my Father's Home,' and 
I ran and knelt at His feet. He laid His hand on my 
head, which is now free from the silver threads you knew, 
and said, 'Arise, for there is great work. You are to go 
back to earth and take the tidings of this truth to your 
loved ones. Are you willing to do this for the sake of 
Him who you know gave His earthly life for you?* 

"Here He led me through the archway, past beauti- 
ful growing plants and under paneled ceilings into a room 
I had not seen before, and showing me a strongly devised 
vehicle said, 'This, daughter, is the conveyance you will 
use in your flight back and forth in your visits to earth.* ** 

From M. E. B. to Her Husband. 1894. "I am sure 



120 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

that you want to know how I pass my time. I have four 
eweet angels who are my constant companions, and in our 
beautiful conveyance, we go from place to place minister- 
ing to those about us. We go to earth to help our loved 
ones left behind. Now you must not judge from this that 
we are far away, for we are not. Earth and Heaven are 
one, but you cannot enter here in the flesh, while we with 
our spiritual bodies can penetrate the veil that hides us 
from you and go where we will, although we are not per- 
mitted to see all the sin of the world. 

"We are allowed to help those who are striving to 
do good, and we assist those out of Christ by just the kind 
of influence you are receiving now. I have been the means 
of saving eighteen souls and influencing many others for 
good. 

"I take these little cherubs who are my constant 
companions and we sail away by ourselves to enjoy the 
quiet of after-work, the serenity and calm of perfect 
peace, and rest. We seek the treasured places, the de- 
scription of which is impossible to me. And i there we 
linger and dream and listen to the enchanting music of 
the heavenly songsters, blended with the thrilling notes 
of invisible bands, and then all will grow slowly away 
from us and the distance sends again the vibrations of 
faintest music, which just quivers and seems to come in 
waves so soft and mellow that we can feel them as they 
touch our closed eyelids; and then we lie down and dream 
of what we know to be Heaven all about us. 

"In these beautiful bowers are growing gorgeous 
flowers, not like yours, and yet just like them. They 
seem to be here and there and all about us, but whence 
they come, we know not; yet they are here and send out 
their perfume. Wherever we are there they are. 

"We have trees to rest beneath. They are like your 
trees, and yet not like them. There is no earth blended 
with their growth. There are ever changing forests here. 
Nothing remains the same long. We are never allowed 
to become weary of anything. We have homes, houses, 
real houses; yet you could not find a place for your foot 
within them. They are like earth houses, and yet not like 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 121 

them. They are furnished in the most wonderful way, 
yet nothing remains the same long. We never leave 
them upon a mission, but what upon our return we find 
some happy surprise awaiting us, either by way of a gift 
or a visitor whom we have heard of and are anxious to 
see, or some soul sits there for whom we have worked, 
waiting to thank us for what we have done. 

"So you see we love our homes and love to hasten 
our return to them. I have told you these things that you 
may see me as I am in this glorious life" 

While Mr. Staley and I never believed in the sub- 
conscious theory, many people do believe that all com- 
munications claimed to come from spirit land are but a 
disgorging of the subconscious mind. Mr. B. has ex- 
plained the method of communication to my satisfaction, 
and I send it out hoping it will help some who are not 
convinced of the authenticity of these messages. 



Sept. 1913. "In giving these messages to you, we 
must use your organs. We play upon them as the music- 
ian plays upon his instrument. Having been in the flesh, 
this is not a difficult thing to do. It is the only way, we 
can express ourselves to you unless we can materialize. 
Not all of us can materialize yet. Men are so afraid of 
this subject. The subconscious mind has even greater 
potentialities than man dreams of. It is a store house of 
wonders, and wonder-working machinery; but it has 
nothing whatever to do with spirit communication, furth- 
er than to record them after they have been received by 
the one to whom they are given. We impress the senses, 
sometimes all of them. The subconscious mind absorbs 
only the physical, i.e., what pertains to the material world. 
It is a record, so to speak, of the thoughts and actions of 
the physical man. We would better not communicate at 
all than to try to filter our communications through the 
conglomerate subjective mind, and expect them to come 
through, pure and clean and true. No, God would never 
use that channel. 

Mr. B." 



122 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

1913. "Spiritism is to redeem the world. The 
good work has already begun. Ministers of the gospel, 
do not be afraid to tell your people what you more than 
half believe down deep in your hearts. Have a hand in 
the good work. But don't be one to condemn this, the 
greatest gift of God at the present time. Help to open 
the gates. Help to life the veil that has hung too long 
between Heaven and earth, and all you shall do shall lift 
your soul higher in these realms above. When you hesi- 
tate, think. What was done to the Christ by unbelievers, 
what to Galilleo by unbelievers, what to all great martyrs, 
by unbelievers. Then see the Christ today. See Joan of 
Arc today. Ah, my friends, I have come to tell you the 
voices I heard are speaking again to you, and I beseech 
you to listen. I am Jeanne d'Arc of France, yes, but of 
God's Kingdom, too, now. Ah, my poor France." 



So far as this communication from Wm. James is 
concerned, I have nothing to say. I knew very little of 
Mr. James and his work in a scientific way. I had not 
thot of him; had not dreamed that he would or could 
contribute to my book. I was writing a letter to a friend 
when all at once the writing ceased to be a friendly let- 
ter, but I felt a force directing my hand and for a few 
lines I wrote automatically. When it ceased, I heard a 
voice which finished the message. The voice then said, 
'I am Wm. James.' I give the message just as I received 
it. 

"To all people be it known that this book was given 
to the world by us here, who failed to convince people of 
the doctrine, when we were in the flesh. Doubt on, if you 
will, criticise if you must. You can never stem the tide of 
belief that will from these pages go forth into the hearts 
of men. It was ordained of God Himself. Pass judg- 
ment if you will, (you cannot avoid the 'judgment of 
God' upon the wrongs of earth). You cannot escape 
from the certainty of this great Truth. It brings com- 
fort, as no other doctrine does. It does not affect your 
relations with any church. It brings your lost ones back* 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 123 

It brings Heaven into your homes and Christ to your very 
side. Then why condemn it? I am speaking now to all 
people the world over. I was not always certain myself. 
But now, I see and now I know. This greatest of all bless- 
ings is at your very door, open and let it in. 

William James.'* 

Since this message came, a spirit calling himself Wm f 
James has spoken and said, "Tell brother Hyslop not to 
open the cryptogram.'* This was the sum and substance 
of the message. I tried to question him but he did not 
reply. 



It seems to me that the description by Lieut. King 
is one of the clearest I have ever received. His account 
of the manner of his death does not quite tally with the 
real facts regarding it. But in a later conversation he 
told me that that was the last he saw, before the missile 
of death struck him down. I do not quite understand 
this, but it isn't the first mystery that has confronted me 
since I began conversations with the inhabitants of the 
spirit world. 

"You have spoken my name. Harold King. Tell 
my mother I went out upon an errand of mercy, never 
dreaming I would not go back. I do not know what to 
tell you first, but think it will interest you if I tell you how 
I came here. I stooped to lift a boy whose face was in 
the dirt and the next thing I remember I stood looking 
at a fellow who looked exactly like myself, only he lay in 
a hole, with the look of death upon his face. I stooped 
to turn him over and I felt a queer feeling creeping over 
me. I stood up and as I did so I realized I was in a dif- 
ferent country. I saw two distinct sets of men. Some of 
them looked as I did, all crumpled up, and some like the 
fellow who was looking on. That was I. Well, it didn't 
last long. From the poor broken bodies of men, to thou- 
sands of those who were clean, was quite a step. But 
here we were. We looked into each other's faces and 
wondered what had struck us. Our first thought was 
that we were taken prisoners, but soon found that that 



124 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

was not the case. Just then we heard a command and 
we stood at attention. I took the word from my higher 
officer, and gave the command 'Forward' and we start- 
ed; but where? The whole expanse spread before us 
was peopled with men who never went around an object, 
but straight thru it. I thought, 'What does it all mean?' 
I felt so queerly but we kept on marching, and in the far 
distance we saw a great gate open. Not one of us had 
spoken a word. I realized that I heard no sound of 
marching feet. I thought 'How strange.* I glanced down 
the line and I never saw such a glow upon the faces of 
marching men. In battle they were black with dirt and 
grim. But these faces were clean and shining with a 
radiance I had never seen. Even then I did not know 
we had passed out of our bodies, and none of them knew. 
I had no desire to give a command when I saw rising be- 
fore us a great white wall. On we went, all in a body, in 
perfect order, no head apparently, but we did not seem 
to need one. By and by we saw the wall had not hind- 
ered us. We had passed it without knowing it. All this 
time a beautiful light had been spread over us. Not like 
any light you ever saw mother, and it has never left us. 
All at once we began to draw away from each other. 
We all bore a smile upon our faces. I began to feel a 
strong Presence, and a voice said, 'Fear not, you have 
finished your earth life, and it is best so.*' 

"And Mother dear, you must believe it. I cannot 
tell you all, for words cannot express it, but believe me, 
I am happy. And now when you and I meet, you will see 
a very different boy. But you will know me. I shall meet 
you mother. You are comfortable now, Mother, and if 
you wish to make me happy, just enjoy everything you 
can. Visit your friends, be cheerful, and whatever you 
do, do not rebel because I had to come here, for it is the 
grandest thing that could ever have happened to me. I 
died the death I wished to die, I gave my life for my 
country and for the greatest and most glorious cause, and 
I am proud. God is very merciful, and I was young. When 
one gives his life, it is all one can do. So you see I gave 
my all. I am busy in things spiritual, and now Mother 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 125 

give your life to God, doubt not. It is all true. There 
is a Heaven, there is a Christ, and I am here. You begin 
to make your own Heaven while on earth, for your Heav- 
en is within you. It is mighty easy to have Hell. But Oh, 
Mother dear, how such souls suffer here. Remorse, re- 
morse, is Hell. I had so much sentiment in me and you 
know how I longed to give it expression, and I often made 
mistakes. I should have been more thoughtful of you, 
but through it all I loved you, and now I see only that 
you are my mother, and that my inheritance must mean 
nothing now to you or me. I'm just plain Harold, and 
your boy. Now we start a new communication, you and 
I. I shall always be with you, and I know all you do, and 
I shall help you. Don't worry. Now enjoy life all you 
can, for by doing so you will help me to advance. Other- 
wise you hinder me. We will be together here some day. 

Good bye, Harold." 



Harold King was First Lieutenant, Company F» 
126th Infantry, 32 nd Division, American Army. 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 127 



CHAPTER XXI 

A last word of my beloved husband, then I lay 
down my pen, feeling I have done what I can to bring 
the great tidings of the wonderful truth he lived by so 
many years, and the way he was led step by step in his 
life work. 

Sometimes my husband would, as he expressed it, 
pack a sermon full of spiritism, but he was very tactful 
and careful to tell it in such a way that it did not seem 
what its "dreadful name" would indicate. Invariably, 
after such a sermon, the people would come to him with 
faces beaming and tell him how his sermon had helped 
them, and it was 'just what they believed.* The memory 
of just this sort of thing is helping to make it all the more 
sad now that he is gone; that he should have been de- 
nied the privilege of telling the story so dear to his heart. 
The story that told of the forces that had made his own 
life a splendid one. He knew what it would do for others 
and yet he must not tell them about it. 

About three years previous to my husband's passing 
from this life, Mr. B. said to him, "My son, you are not 
going to remain in Manistee much longer. You are going 
to a Higher Field. God has a greater work than this for 
you to do. You are going to be called higher." Once 
Mr. Staley said, "What do you suppose he means? Where 
do you think we will go?" Never dreaming of our sep- 
aration. Indeed God has called him to a Higher Field. 
Now he is free to say anything he will, without fear of 
causing adverse criticism. He stepped into that Higher 
Field, full of confidence and trust. It was not a strange 
land to him. His last words were, "Don't worry, I'm go- 
ing home." It was indeed home to him. He had lived 
so near that home for so many years all unafraid, he made 
entrance there, only to meet his Savior face to face, with 
words of love and commendation. It was just what he 



128 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

always wished and now he comes to me, as others came 
to him and me, and gives me encouragement and comfort, 
without which my life would be lonely indeed. 

On April 1, 1915, Mr Staley passed out of this life 
and stepped into the Home he had builded for himself 
beyond the veil. April ninth he came to me and spoke. 
This is what he said to a dear friend who was with me 
at the time. "Well, sister, you heard me." Meaning 
she thought and felt he was near. To me he said: 

"Now I am here and talking to you on earth. Oh, 
Mela, you are brave and it makes me happy. And the 
children are with you, so am I. Now I will tell you about 
it as I promised. I just stepped into another room and 
there was Claudia and Mr. B., mother and father, and 
they greeted me and said I was welcome. I did not see 
Mr. Wente, but I saw him just before I 'cut loose,* and 
then I felt a great Presence and it had been with me be- 
fore I saw anyone else. It came closer and I was envel- 
oped in a stream-like cloud of mist and in the midst I 
stood waiting, not knowing what would come next, then 
1 heard the sweetest voice I ever heard and it said, 'Come 
I have been waiting for you, and your work is ready and 
you have only to begin.* I had no thought of what it was, 
or where. But, my love, rejoice when I tell you there 
are choirs here that sing the hallelujahs of praise to 'Christ 
the King' and I have one of those. Oh yes, because my 
soul is a praiseful soul. You remember dear, how I used 
to hear music all the time, and how I was constantly sing- 
ing to myself? They were calling me, that was why. We 
go from place to place, and wherever we go, like barn- 
acles on a ship's bottom, souls of earth are picked up and 
saved. And the ones we save are the great i ones of 
earth. Now Christ had me by the hand when I awoke 
here and like a brother, clung to me. I struggled to free 
myself, not feeling worthy. But soon He took me softly 
in His arms and held me close and my fear all departed. 
I will tell you more sometime.** 

Then to Dr. Beale, his dearest friend, who had come 
to perform this last loving service for him, he said, 
"Charles, you did yourself proud, there in my pulpit. I 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 129 

stood there awhile, then seated myself upon the front 
seat, in front of my suffering wife, and held her hand. I 
was there. That hymn, 'How Firm a Foundation,* (his 
favorite hymn), rang thru these courts like a grand chorus 
for we all joined in. I thank every one for their kind- 
ness to my wife. And to you Brother, I can only say, 
'God bless you.' You were a wonderful comfort to her, 
my wife, and what you said of me, well, it was enough. 

"Tell B. B. he is a 'prince,* and too good a fellow 
to leave in the woods. So I am delegated to blaze the 
way out for him, and he will know no peace till then. 
And all his kindness will be rewarded by a glorious home. 

"And now sister, you are in reality a sister, and you 
have a home here, which I wish you could see. Go on 
doing good, and your entrance will be met by Christ Him- 
self. 

Ques. "How long did they know you were com- 
ing?** 

Ans. "A long time, for I was a sick man for two 
years." 

J. J. Staley." 

"My dear wife: There are so many things I wish 
to tell you. Some are so great I cannot express them in 
words. Can't you help to realize the things of this life 
over here if I tell you just the little my human side can 
reveal to you? Oh, try! There are many more good 
people in the world than men know about. What they 
really are is scarcely ever known. What men knew of me 
was not what I really was. My weaknesses did not ex- 
press my goodness and so it is with all men. Mortals 
tiy very little to see how good a man is, but rather how 
bad he is. Here, thank God, only the good is seen and 
all that is known of the evil we did is crushed out and 
made to harm us no more. A spirit is much more real 
than mortals, no evil is here. 

"Our communication here is without criticisms, and 
when we see ouny mortals brace themselves against the 
obedience to God's laws, it is as the strength of the ant 
to move away the rock of Gibralter; just as absurd. Here 
we obey the slightest command and our lives move on 



130 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

in perfect accord with everything that is good. We aren't 
changed in form my dear. You'll know me the moment 
you enter here. All the difference there is, is that we have 
no blemishes; and as we grow in goodness, we grow 
beautiful, and still more beautiful. There are no old peo- 
ple here, no ugly ones. 

"I am just beginning to explore here and have 
found many surprises. There is an entrance to my home 
here on every side, and all wide open. Some choose to 
keep their entrances closed, but they get over that as 
time goes on and they learn that they cannot shut out 
God. A small soul on earth is a small soul here, and 
they sometimes grow very slowly, but they grow. I am 
often in Manistee among the old friends there. Once in 
a while one feels me and says so to himself. I have seen 
and conversed with many great men. I mean the really 
great. You know there is a difference in being thought 
to be great, and being really great. 

"I hear the call, and I must go. 

J. J. Staley." 

The minister's love for his church was boundless, 
altho he never resorted to those platitudes that rise so 
glibly to the lips of some, he was always ready with words 
of cheer and sincere praise where called for. His sym- 
pathy was ever ready and freely given to those in distress. 
He loved children and they loved him. 



"Let me talk to my church. In this little book you 
will learn all about that part of my life I had to hide from 
you. I do not know why it had to be, but my dear 
friends, God led me and I was a better man because of 
the belief I held so sacredly. I longed to enlighten you. 
Sometimes, when in my pulpit, I would feel a strong, al- 
most irresistable impulse to open it all up to you. But 
my soul saw the danger and I was not allowed to speak. 
I rejoice that you can read this book. I rejoice that my 
dear wife has given it to the world. Some of you will be- 
lieve and be greatly helped by it. Others of you will still 
question and reject this truth, and your souls have all the 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 131 

harder work to do after you come here. One by one, my 
people are coming here, and some of them, it grieves 
me to say, are struggling to free themselves from the old 
bonds that bound them. 

"Mrs. Sailing is a sweet, free spirit that we all love. 
Brother Deacon Wardwell is the happiest soul you can 
imagine. Mrs. Hall is everywhere present, and never 
ceases to minister to those who need her. Eloise is here 
too, a sweet spirit. We often get together and go among 
you and have a good time, and it doesn't seem so strange 
either. We see and know you all, just as you are, and 
we work together for your good. You are all very dear 
to me and I appreciate all your kindness to me and my 
wife, and from this side of the Veil, I can minister to you 
as I could not when I was with you. 

"The young man who came to take my place as pas- 
tor has done well, and his work shall never die. It is not 
easy for him. But you have understood. But you can- 
not keep him long. Yes, I am often beside him in the old 
pulpit. God bless you. 

"Your former pastor, and doubly your friend. 

J. J. Staley." 

With a friend I had had some conversation about 
the good one might do had one the disposition to do it. 
We had spoken of how people often seek only to 
have a good time, or what they call a good time, and do 
not see the good they might do others. 

"Because one goes to church twice a day and prays 
'without ceasing' is no sign that one is fit to die. You re- 
member it is the doers of His Works that get the approval 
of the Almighty God. And every act of mercy or kind- 
ness of any kind is recorded here and is all to the credit 
of the doer. Go on and have your good time, but be 
careful what kind of a good time you have. It is not a 
good time if you do aught to besmirch your soul. No use 
to wait till darkness shall hide your actions. There is no 
darkness here. We see it all and often warn you of the 
dreadful results to follow. There is the old saying *A 
man is known by the company he keeps.' This saying is 
most assuredly true. And do not forget, you who pos- 



132 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

sess talent and wealth and opportunities, numberless, that 
much is expected of you and how Christ longs for you to 
help Him. 

'This Truth should be taught as any truth is taught, 
beginning with the children as soon as they are able to 
understand. Teach them that death is a natural thing 
and not to be dreaded. Then the fear of death will dis- 
appear and people will live longer on earth and their 
lives will be full of good works; for they know it is known 
and seen by the Heavenly Hosts. Fear is a killer. The 
fear of death; the dread that accompanies it, makes more 
people grow old and die early than any other thing. They 
will learn then not to fear disease and this will help to 
preserve the body. If you should ask many people, most 
people, if they fear death, more than likely they would 
say no. But tell them that they will die in a few hours, 
and see the effect upon them. Even then you cannot see 
what we see, as the heart bounds with fear, and a shud- 
der of very death itself goes thru them. Oh, yes, most 
people fear death. 

J. J. Staley." 

"Dear Mela: It will not be so long until the earth 
world will be a free world. The change for good has 
already started and God's plan is surely working out. 
You remember how we wondered at some of the mes- 
sages we received. It was so hard for them to write at 
first for neither we nor they were strong enough to en- 
able them to do very much. Some seemed so childish. 
I must tell you that my grandmother wrote what she 
called 'Life's Reverie.' Dear woman, it was what she 
wished for me and took that way to tell me. A great 
many were given under difficulties which made them very 
imperfect. But oh, aren't you glad we listened to the 
voices, Mela? 

"There are a great many changes to come to the 
world this twentieth century. Some will come with a 
rush and some will come after a hard battle, but come 
they must. God has made earth a good world and He 
isn't going to leave it to go on to destruction. Men must 
learn that nothing but brotherly love will count for one 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 133 

cent. Selfishness and greed have got to go. You are 
being cared for, dear. 

J. J. s." 

Reverend Staley was a thirty-second degree Mason, 
a member of the Mystic Shrine, and to the noble men of 
that order I am deeply indebted for many kindnesses 
shown me. 

MESSAGE TO HIS FRIENDS IN THE MASONIC 
FRATERNITY, FROM MR. STALEY 

1916. "I wish to write to the boys at the Temple. 
Will you let them know? I'm sure they want to hear 
from me even if it does seem sort of out of place and 
uncanny. I am more alive than any of them as they will 
find some day. The way they did things helped them 
up the ladder here a long way. Say all they may against 
the Masonic order, it's sanctioned here, and that is 
enough for us. I am glad I was a Mason; even glad I 
was a Shriner. You see we read the hearts boys, and all 
those other things are not so bad if the heart isn't bad. 
But it is best to 'cut out* some of the things that your 
hearts do not approve of. You'll stand a much better 
chance here. You can't hide anything from the people 
over here. It is all open and known and when a fellow 
thinks he is securely entrenched behind his outward life, 
he is very much mistaken. You can not do it boys. Why 
if you could see the band that follows you about every- 
where you go, trying to keep you in the straight and nar- 
row way, you'd think a long time before you would do 
the things you sometimes do. This does not apply to 
you, any more than to any other man. It is so all over 
the universe. I am not ashamed of my work there in 
Manistee; but I am sorry I did not do more for those 
about me. It is a mighty good thing that God gives us 
a chance here or we would be in a sorry state. 

"It seems perfectly natural for me to be here now. 
At first, I was crazy with dread and fear; | but I way 
blessed with more than some and I love the work I an 
doing. 



134 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 

"And now you listen, and sometime you will hear 
my voice among you, for you are all dear to me, and I 
love still to meet you. Mr. Wente is often in your meet- 
ings. We have a Shrine here too. Not quite so hilarious 
as the ones you have there, but it is a glorious Shrine 
where we worship and commune with the Saints. You 
will see it some day. 

"I am not a glorified mortal yet, but I am happy in 
the privileges I enjoy; and the mercy of God has been 
great toward me. I can see you all and I wish I could 
take you by the hand and look into your faces, or rather 
that you might look into my face, for I can see yours. I 
cannot name you all, but just to show you I have not for- 
gotten, I'm going to name Tom of the cue, and Harry and 
George, and Alex and Allen and Frank and Dock and 
Harve. Now, who is talking to you? I must not say too 
much. I shall come to you just as tho I had my physical 
body, and now I thank you for everything. 

John J. Staley." 
CONCLUSION 

Little did I think when receiving these messages, 
some of them over thirty years ago, that the time to pub- 
lish them would be fulfilled in my day. But the interest 
in spirit communication has awakened since the transla- 
tion of thousands of souls in the World War, and I have 
given out these messages of former times to comfort those 
who are struggling for consolation during these trying 
days of numberless separations. 

A. F. S. 



THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 135 



FEAR NOT 

"Sunset and evening star" will come 

Yet fear ye not the dark. 

The sunrise of eternity 

Where pure love's holy light 

Shines in the soul of every man, 

Will soon blot out the night. 

For not that thing called death, I say. 

There is no death of soul. 

Ye are but being born again 

Into a higher plane. 

Helene G. Sheldon. 



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